IMPRESS launches new standards Code
The press regulator has published new minimum standards expected from journalists and publishers.
The NUJ’s National Executive Council and Policy committee endorsed the following statement, ahead of engagement with IMPRESS last year.
It is acceptable to take general pictures of, or describe, all people when they are in public places. For these purposes, these are reports or pictures where the specific identity of the subjects are unimportant and unrecorded, for example: a family strolling along the promenade on a sunny day, children queueing for tickets for a popular show, or a family carrying lots of bags from the sales.
Where a photographer or reporter records the identity of individuals and children appear in the pictures or reporting, consent should be sought from the individuals in question. In most cases, obtaining consent will be implicit in asking the names of subjects. Where an individual is in the news, and them being with their children is relevant to contemporaneous coverage, it may be appropriate to photograph them without consent.
It is acceptable to photograph anyone in a public place where they are deliberately and knowingly bringing themselves to wider attention, for example: putting on a performance, making a speech, or mounting a protest.
Photographing the children of well-known people in public that are of interest simply because they are the children of well-known people is not acceptable.
The union also recommends that Impress gives greater consideration to potential unintended consequences of examples used in the guidance accompanying its Code. The NUJ is at the forefront of the work to ensure journalists can carry out their work unimpeded and in safety. Photographers and reporters face challenges daily from members of the public. Any organisation seeking to regulate the media should strive not to provide justification or encouragement to those who, without justification, seek to undermine or thwart photographers and reporters going about their work. In particular there is a danger of confusing legitimate news gathering with stalking.
Although the Impress Code is aimed at publishers and not journalists, that distinction isn't necessarily clear to those outside our industry. Conflating the taking of and publishing photographs should also be avoided.
The Code and its guidance apply to all gathering information and publishing news-related content. The NUJ will review the new Code, and members can access it on the IMPRESS website.