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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of the laws and ethical codes applying to journalism
Level / 4 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for people studying journalism in an off-job situation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate knowledge of: the laws and media regulations relating to news gathering, news writing, publishing and broadcasting; and how to avoid legal and ethical issues.
Classification / Journalism > Journalism Skills
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / Unit 27619, Demonstrate understanding of news writing and write news stories suitable for community newspapers, internet and radio.
Explanatory notes
1 This unit standard has been designed for learning and assessment off-job where scenarios may be used to gather evidence. This standard should not be used as part of a professional journalism course or qualification.
2 Industry texts
– Tully, Jim (ed), Intro: A Beginner's Guide to Professional News Journalism (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, 4th edition, 2008);
– Burrows, John, A Journalist's Guide to the Law (Wellington: New Zealand Journalists Training Organisation, Wellington, 5th ed, 2006).
3 Relevant legislation
– Broadcasting Act 1989;
– Copyright Act 1994;
– Defamation Act 1992;
– Human Rights Act 1993;
– New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990;
– Privacy Act 1993;
– Telecommunications Act 2001;
– Trespass Act 1980;
– Evidence Act 2006.
Relevant laws and legal conventions
– Law of breach of confidence;
– Tort of breach of privacy;
– Tort of defamation;
– Tort of trespass.
4 Definitions
– news writing refers to the prose style used for news reporting in media such as newspapers, radio and television and internet news sites. It encompasses vocabulary, sentence structure and the way in which stories present the information in terms of relative importance, tone, and intended audience;
– news story refers to a timely and succinct account of unfolding events of public interest.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of the laws relating to news gathering, news writing and publishing and broadcasting and how to avoid legal issues.
Range evidence must be in accordance with the relevant legislation and industry texts.
Evidence requirements
1.1 Laws relating to news gathering, news writing, publishing and broadcasting are explained in terms of both journalists and news media outlets.
Range includes but is not limited to – privacy, privilege, trespass, copyright, defamation.
1.2 The penalties for breaking the laws covered in evidence requirement 1.1 are explained.
1.3 Precautions taken by journalists to avoid legal issues are listed and explained.
Range includes but is not limited to – accuracy, balance, fairness.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of avoiding ethical issues relating to news gathering, news writing, publishing and broadcasting
Range ethical issues may include but are not limited to – accurate attribution, breach of confidence, fairness, balance, plagiarism, sensitivity to people under stress.
Evidence requirements
2.1 The impacts of ethical issues on reporting, writing, publishing and broadcasting of news are explained in terms of journalistic practice, codes of ethics and media regulatory bodies.
Range explanations are in accordance with the industry texts and relevant legislation;
evidence is required for three ethical issues.
2.2 A code of ethics is developed to define professional behaviour in most common situations.
2.3 The code of ethics is justified in terms of the relevant legislation, laws and conventions.
Planned review date / 31 December 2016Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment /Registration / 1 / 19 January 2012 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0002
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Competenz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / Ó New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014