As a further move towards promoting ethics, the HKJA published an analysis showing worrying trends drawn from past cases dealt with by its ethics committee.
Members of the public are reminded that the HKJA accepts complaints in writing that media organizations have broken the HKJA's code of ethics, and would investigate them to the best of its ability. According to the survey of journalists, sensational or disgusting photographs were the most serious ethics issue, with 47 percent of respondents expressing concern. Too much sex (43 percent) and exaggerated reports (41 percent) were cited as the next most serious areas of concern.
The HKJA conducted a survey in the light of rising concern about media ethics and to find out what measures journalists themselves felt would be most effective. A total of 69 percent of members asked the HKJA to take a higher profile in ethics matters. The HKJA said it would follow its members' wishes in this regard.
The survey was sent to all 660 HKJA members in late October 1998. There were 178 responses. (6)
A debate intensified in 1998 over the media council concept.
Most advocates of a media council agree that, whatever its form and functions may be, the new watchdog would have its inherent limitations and might not be the best way to curb media excesses.
But they said they were not very much concerned about it, even if it would be challenged - for as long as public discussions go on.
Liu Kin-Ming, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, which is campaigning for the establishment of an independent media ethics forum, said much still had to be done.
"Papers can set up a 'letters to the editor' column, which allows a debate on their own ombudsman to handle complaints, or draw up their own code of practices," he said.
"Our proposal is not mutually exclusive of any of these activities."
The HKJA has put forward the idea of an ethics forum after consulting its members in November 1998.
According to the proposal, the forum would primarily deal with complaints against media reports, and should increase public understanding of the media.
The HKJA has restrained media workers and organizations, including itself, from taking part in the running of the forum, even at the expense of practical concerns such as funding sources and co-operation of the industry.
