In fact, there is no specific "text of principles" in our law that press organizations and members of the press are obliged to abide by in relation to freedom of the press. Naturally, there are no legally binding principles or rules beyond the general rules of law for press organizations and press members.
Therefore, members of the press are obliged to comply with the general rules of law in their work. However, there are some basic principles adopted and announced by the Press Council operating in our country.
The basic principles that we also accept are as follows:
- No one shall be condemned or humiliated in publications on the grounds of race, gender, age, health, physical disability, social status or religious beliefs,
- Not to broadcast any broadcast that restricts freedom of thought, conscience and expression, or that undermines or offends public morality, religious feelings or the basic foundations of the family institution,
- Journalism, which is a public duty, should not be used for immoral private purposes and interests,
- Not to include expressions that humiliate, denigrate or slander individuals and organizations beyond the limits of criticism,
- Not to make the private life of individuals the subject of broadcasting, except in cases where public interest requires it,
- Not to publish news, the investigation of which is within the possibilities of journalism, without investigating it or being sure of its accuracy,
- Not to publish information provided on condition that it remains confidential, unless the public interest seriously requires it,
- Not presenting to the public as if it were the product of another press organ before the distribution process of that press organ is completed, and taking care to indicate the source of special products received from agencies,
- Not to declare anyone "guilty" unless they have been found guilty by a court of law,
- Not to attribute acts criminalized by law to anyone unless there are reasonable grounds to believe that they are real,
- Journalists must protect the confidentiality of their sources. This excludes cases where the source aims to mislead the public for personal, political, economic, etc. reasons.
- Journalists should refrain from methods and attitudes that may cast a shadow on the dignity of the title they carry,
- Avoiding broadcasting that encourages violence and bullying and hurts human values,
- To specify these qualifications of publications in the nature of announcements and advertisements in a way that leaves no room for doubt,
- Respect the time limit for the publication date,
- Press organs respect the right to reply and retraction arising from inaccurate publications.