Everyone would agree with the Australian Press Councils charter:
Freedom of opinion and expression is an inalienable right of a free people.
Australia is committed to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration provides:
Everyone has the right of freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
In a truly democratic society open debate, discussion, criticism and dissent are central to the process of generating informed and considered choices. These processes are crucial to the formation of values and priorities and help in assessing and finding solutions to social, economic and political problems.
A free press is a symbol of a free people. The people of Australia have a right to freedom of information and access to differing opinions and declare that the following principles are basic to an unfettered flow of news and views both within Australia and across the nation's borders.
However, at times the very empowering process of free speech can be experienced as both disempowering and discriminatory for some people.
AIVL is aware that all forms of the media (print, television and radio) play an important role in educating the community and ensuring that the differing views of the community are reflected and represented. However, AIVL has concern that at times, some views and the ways in which these views are portrayed can be inaccurate and biased. When such reporting is undertaken, rather than meaningfully engaging the Australian public on issues in an open and positive way, the opposite can occur.
On a regular basis, all forms of media across the country cover the issues relating to the use of illicit drugs, which is for many a very sensitive and even emotive issue. While supporting the notion of free speech, AIVL does indeed question this notion when its result is an increase in harm for individuals and the community. It is not only the print media that uses free speech in such a negative way. Radio and television, be it during current affairs programs or story lines within dramas and soap operas, are also responsible for misinforming the public.
Fair reporting
It is difficult to hold up examples of fair reporting when it comes to the topics of the use of prohibited drugs and hepatitis C. Many headlines set the scene for stories that stereotype and portray people who inject illicit drugs and are living with hepatitis C as undeserving people who contribute little if anything positive to the community. Such reporting is of great concern to the alcohol and other drug and blood borne virus sectors. As a result many organisations in this sector are taking steps to work productively with the media.
We at AIVL know that discrimination, stigmatisation and stereotyping dis-empower and hinder people from realising their health and human rights. For people who inject and use illicit drugs this means that access to health and social services can be greatly hindered. In turn this contributes to escalating epidemics such as hepatitis C. Discrimination takes differing forms and is demonstrated in various health settings such as:
- GP surgeries
- Dentists
- Pharmacies
- Hospitals
In addition, services that are set up to meet the needs of people who inject illicit drugs also feel the brunt of community fuelled discrimination. Too many times greatly needed needle and syringe programs have been targeted and closed down due to community misconception. The issues are complex and we must work together to resolve them.
The Australian Journalists Association states within its code of ethics that their members engaged in journalism must commit themselves to:
- Honesty
- Fairness
- Independence
- Respect for the rights of others
In addition they state the following:
- Report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts. Do not suppress relevant available facts, or give distorting emphasis. Do your utmost to give a fair opportunity for reply.
- Do not place unnecessary emphasis on personal characteristics, including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, family relationships, religious belief, or physical or intellectual disability.
- Aim to attribute information to its source. Where a source seeks anonymity, do not agree without first considering the sources motives and any alternative attributable source. Where confidences are accepted, respect them in all circumstances.
- Do not allow personal interest, or any belief, commitment, payment, gift or benefit, to undermine your accuracy, fairness or independence.
- Disclose conflicts of interest that affect, or could be seen to affect, the accuracy, fairness or independence of your journalism. Do not improperly use a journalistic position for personal gain.
- Do not allow advertising or other commercial considerations to undermine accuracy, fairness or independence.
- Do your utmost to ensure disclosure of any direct or indirect payment made for interviews, pictures, information or stories.
- Use fair, responsible and honest means to obtain material. Identify yourself and your employer before obtaining any interview for publication or broadcast. Never exploit a persons vulnerability or ignorance of media practice.
- Present pictures and sound which are true and accurate. Any manipulation likely to mislead should be disclosed.
- Do not plagiarise.
- Respect private grief and personal privacy. Journalists have the right to resist compulsion to intrude.
- Do your utmost to achieve fair correction of errors.
Guidance Clause
Basic values often need interpretation and sometimes come into conflict. Ethical journalism requires conscientious decision-making in context. Only substantial advancement of the public interest or risk of substantial harm to people allows any standard to be overridden.
Such codes of ethics play an important role in assisting journalists to report in fair and honest ways. We hope that you will when producing a program or writing article on these complex issues contact us, we are here to help.
The Power of Language
We all know how loaded some words can be and the different meanings they can hold depending on who you are.
Here is a quick reference guide for you to make sure that the language you are using in relation to illicit drugs, people who use/inject illicit drugs and people who are living with hepatitis C is positive rather than punitive!
Hepatitis C
When abbreviating hepatitis C - hep C.
The best way to describe a person/s who has hepatitis C is - a person/people who is/are living with hepatitis C.
Transmission of hepatitis C - Rather than attributing this to a particular behaviour such as injecting drugs, it is important to focus on the how - blood to blood contact. For example instead of; hepatitis C is transmitted by injecting drugs say hepatitis C is transmitted by blood to blood contact.
There are no high risk groups so try to use affected communities or high risk behaviours. It is high risk behaviours that can spread hepatitis C, not high risk groups. Referring to 'high risk groups' stigmatises already marginalised people and groups. It can also lull people who don't identify with those groups into a false sense of security.
The National Hepatitis C Strategy 2005-2008 does identify a number of "priority populations" for targeting and involvement in relation to hepatitis C prevention. Certain population groups may need to be given a priority focus due to their link with high risk practices, behaviours and/or settings not simply because they are a member of that population group. If you use the term "priority populations" in relation to hepatitis C it should be in the context of their participation in high risk behaviours (such as unsafe injecting drug use practices) or high risk settings (such as prisons) rather than a blanket statement about all members of that group.
Illicit Drugs
Describing illicit drugs can be emotive. Best way to describe them... illicit drugs, and prohibited substances
People who use illicit drugs
Terms like junkie and addict are discriminatory, instead use these terms:
- A person who uses/ injects illicit drugs
- A person who is drug dependent
- A person who is experiencing problematic drug use
