Professional ethics essential for journalists

by Jaliya WIJEYEKOON

Senior Lecturer and the writing course co-ordinator of the Economics Department of University of Massachasetts, John R. Stifler, conducting a two day professional workshop for media personnel categorically stated that the main duty of a journalist is to express the views without fear or favour but within the framework of accepted professional ethics.

He further stated that the functions of the Sub Editor is to see that an elegant, logical, informative and accurate news items are presented to the newspapers.

Sub Editors functions (commonly known as subbing) covers a vast spectrum. In addition to grammar and fundamental rules and regulations of a language, sub editors are expected to have a sound knowledge of whatever articles or writings that they are presenting for final printing.

He pointed out that the Sub Editors should always try to curtail unnecessary rigmarole, repetition and exaggerations.The above workshop was conducted by the Sri Lanka - United States Fullbright Scholarship Commission to enhance the professional standards and a number of Sub Editors from different Print Media organisations participated. A number of individual and group presentations written by the participants were scrutinized and edited by the Lecturer John R. Stifler.