Median pelisäännöt

Abstract

The online publication examines the implementation of freedom of speech and the requirements set for editorial work based on selected legal cases and the decisions of Council for Mass Media in Finland, which evaluates the ethics of journalism. The presentation aims to identify and illustrate" the problem areas of journalistic work by connecting the discussed case examples as part of the chronological editorial work process. Presentation starts from the external starting points of journalism (Journalism's operating environment), the general rights related to freedom of speech and access to information (The public's relationship with the media) and the journalistic decision-making power and independence of newsrooms, where we also look at possible abuses of media power (Journalism's credibility). The chapters following these parts deal with the time-sequenced practices of editorial work (Information acquisition, Story implementation, Publishing, and Follow-up journalistic activities). "Efforts have been made to follow selected legal cases until their final, legally binding decisions" Some of the cases have been resolved in the national district court, court of appeal or supreme court proceedings, but some of these have progressed to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which interprets freedom of speech. The examples also include non-accusation settlements regarding the use of freedom of speech. In the cases decided by the Council for Mass Media in Finland, features assessed as both unethical and meeting ethical requirements have been dealt with. In the examples, ethical interpretation of the considered part of the solution has been described, but the exempt-condemnatory marking that characterizes the conclusion as a whole has been removed. The publication is based on the author's lecture courses on legal standards and ethics of journalism at the University of Jyväskylä and its partner institutions.