3.1 Meaning of code of ethics

A code of ethics is a written set of principles and standards that tells the members of a profession or organisation how they are expected to behave, what values they must uphold and what conduct is unacceptable. It turns broad moral ideas such as honesty, fairness and respect into practical guidance that members can apply when they face difficult choices at work. A code of ethics does not replace the law: it usually asks for a higher standard of behaviour than the law demands, and it is enforced mainly by the profession itself through reprimands, suspension or expulsion. Example: a savings and credit society in Nyakach asks every new staff member to read and sign its code of ethics before handling members' deposits.

Ethics, morals and law

• Morals: Personal beliefs about right and wrong, shaped by upbringing, culture and religion. Two people may hold different morals on the same issue.
• Ethics: Agreed standards of right conduct within a group or profession, reasoned out and written down so that every member applies the same rules.
• Law: Rules made by the state and enforced by courts, with penalties such as fines or imprisonment. An act may be legal but still unethical, for example publishing a lawful but needlessly cruel photograph of a grieving family.

Code of ethics and code of conduct

The two terms are often used together, but they differ in focus. A code of ethics states values and principles, such as truthfulness, independence and fairness, and leaves members to apply them with judgement. A code of conduct is more specific: it lists the behaviours that are required or forbidden, such as "do not accept gifts from news sources" or "label paid content clearly". Many professions combine both in one document, so that each value is followed by the rules that put it into practice.

Features of a code of ethics

• Written and published: The code is available to members and to the public, so everyone knows the standard expected.
• Value based: It rests on core values such as truth, integrity, accountability and respect for human dignity.
• Practical guidance: It explains how the values apply in common situations members face at work.
• Voluntary commitment: Members accept it when they join the profession or organisation, often by signing it.
• Enforcement mechanism: It names who receives complaints, how they are heard and what sanctions apply.
• Reviewed periodically: It is revised as the profession, technology and society change.

Purposes of a code of ethics

• Guiding decisions: Members have a reference point when a situation is unclear or when two duties conflict.
• Protecting the public: The people served by the profession know what standard of service and honesty they can demand.
• Building trust and credibility: A profession that holds itself to a published standard earns public confidence.
• Promoting professionalism: It sets the profession apart from untrained or casual practice.
• Providing a basis for discipline: Complaints can be judged against a known standard rather than personal opinion.
• Reducing outside interference: A profession that regulates itself well gives government less reason to impose controls.

Who develops codes of ethics

Codes are written by professional associations (for example bodies for doctors, accountants, engineers and journalists), by regulators established in law, and by individual employers for their own staff. A media professional may therefore be bound by three layers at once: a national code, the code of a professional association they belong to, and the editorial policy of the media house that employs them.