Just Journalism methodology

Our analysis of the media’s coverage of Israel is systematic and rigorous. On a daily basis, we monitor UK press and broadcast for all relevant coverage. Using the UK’s publicly available regulatory frameworks, we then seek to evaluate whether the coverage that appears in the public domain adheres to core journalistic principles. We will also be producing regular in-depth special reports analysing coverage over time. (N.B. Until March 2008 our broadcast monitoring comprehensively covers: Channel 4 News, BBC Today Programme, Newsnight, The World at One, The World Tonight, PM, The World This Weekend and Sunday. From May 2008 we will be expanding our broadcast monitoring to include all major television news output.)

 

As well as a diverse research programme, Just Journalism will also engage in a series of public and private activities designed to highlight the importance of journalistic integrity.

The journalistic principles we cite in our analysis are derived from four key sources and will always refer to one of these. These sources, in combination, form the bedrock of journalistic standards in the UK.

The BBC Editorial Guidelines

The BBC is a public service broadcaster, established by a Royal Charter and funded by the licence fee that is paid by UK households. The BBC Editorial Guidelines outline the standards the BBC expects of all BBC content on TV, radio and online.

OFCOM Broadcasting Code

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

The Press Complaints Commission Code of Practice

The Press Complaints Commission [‘PCC’] is an independent body which deals with complaints from members of the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines. The PCC is charged with enforcing the Code of Practice which was framed by the newspaper and periodical industry.

The National Union of Journalists Code of Conduct

The National Union of Journalists is a trade union whose members cover the whole range of editorial work – staff and freelance, writers and reporters, editors and sub-editors, photographers and illustrators, working in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, books, on the internet and in public relations.

Click here to view these journalistic principles in more detail.