News council
Encyclopedia
A news council is an organization set up to look into complaints about journalism
, such as inaccuracy and bias
. The methods that are used vary substantially from one country to another.
, which is funded by a levy
on all newspapers and magazines. It does not hear complaints about journalism in other media. (See main article.)
The Minnesota News Council says it gets about 40 % of its money from non-news companies, 20 % from news organizations, 30 % from foundations and 10 % from individuals. It seeks contributions from all sources except the government. It hears complaints about all news media, including broadcast
and online news
.
The Washington News Council, serving Washington state
, was based on the Minnesota group. It held its first hearing in 1999. In 2005, the Washington and Minnesota groups said they would award $75,000 to each of two nonprofit groups interested in starting new news councils in other states.
, which monitors the behavior of journalists according to ethical criteria. The tribunal accepts and rules on individual complaints.
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, such as inaccuracy and bias
Bias
Bias is an inclination to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of alternatives. Bias can come in many forms.-In judgement and decision making:...
. The methods that are used vary substantially from one country to another.
News councils in Britain
Complaints against British newspapers and magazines are heard by the Press Complaints CommissionPress Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. The PCC is funded by the annual levy it charges newspapers and magazines...
, which is funded by a levy
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
on all newspapers and magazines. It does not hear complaints about journalism in other media. (See main article.)
News councils in the United States
The idea of a news council has met considerable resistance from U.S. journalists, many of whom fear that it could lead to government regulation of the press. Advocates of news councils often point to the Minnesota News Council, which was started by the Minnesota Newspaper Association and inspired by a predecessor to Britain's Press Complaints Commission. The Minnesota News Council has been hearing complaints since 1971, using a panel made up of half people from news organizations and half from the public. About half of the complaints are upheld.The Minnesota News Council says it gets about 40 % of its money from non-news companies, 20 % from news organizations, 30 % from foundations and 10 % from individuals. It seeks contributions from all sources except the government. It hears complaints about all news media, including broadcast
Broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally...
and online news
Online journalism
Online journalism is defined as the reporting of facts when produced and distributed via the Internet.As of 2009, audiences for online journalism continue to grow...
.
The Washington News Council, serving Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
, was based on the Minnesota group. It held its first hearing in 1999. In 2005, the Washington and Minnesota groups said they would award $75,000 to each of two nonprofit groups interested in starting new news councils in other states.
News council in Bolivia
Bolivia's National Council of Journalist Ethics includes a National Tribunal of Journalistic EthicsNational Tribunal of Journalistic Ethics
Bolivia's National Tribunal of Journalistic Ethics is an independent advisory body to the press, which monitors the behavior of journalists according to ethical criteria. The tribunal, which forms part of the National Council of Journalist Ethics , accepts and rules on individual complaints...
, which monitors the behavior of journalists according to ethical criteria. The tribunal accepts and rules on individual complaints.