Principles of Impartiality and Balance of the Public Service Broadcasting Programme [Avalik-õigusliku ringhäälingu programmi erapooletuse ja tasakaalustatuse põhimõtted]

Name of code

Principles of Impartiality and Balance of the Public Service Broadcasting Programme [Avalik-õigusliku ringhäälingu programmi erapooletuse ja tasakaalustatuse põhimõtted]

Originator of code

The Broadcasting Council

Country

Estonia

Original language

Estonian

Year of creation

2001

Type of code

Journalism

Main frame of accountability

Professional

Transparency

Public

Legal and regulatory context

Mandatory

Implementation and enforcement

Procedural

Diversity

No

AI/automation

No

Abstract

The Principles of Impartiality and Balance in Public Broadcasting Programming developed by the the Broadcasting Council is an 8-page long guideline divided into 14 subchapters like how to address complex issues, how to ensure political balance when covering political topics, how to do an interview, or what to keep in mind when parodying news. The first section introduces various concepts related to impartiality and objectivity and explains why these are important and how to follow them. The document is a general guideline that explains the requirements of objectivity and impartiality through various public broadcasting-related examples and situations. The last subchapter on responsibility foresaw the creation of a separate position within the public broadcasting body whose role is to handle potential misconduct cases.

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