Iraqi Gov't Demands Reporters Sign 'Code of Conduct'

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

The government wants to require foreign and Iraqi journalists to sign a code of conduct in exchange for permission to attend this month's provincial elections, raising concerns among media analysts that independent coverage could be undermined.

Iraqi authorities said the goal is to ensure fair coverage and to prevent the distortion of facts in a politically charged environment.

Parts of the 14-page code require that reports be balanced and unbiased and prohibit media from falsifying or misrepresenting information. The code also bans coverage of candidates and political campaigns for two days before the Jan. 31 vote. Punishment for violation ranges from warnings to thousands of dollars in fines.

... Journalists must agree to them in order to get credentials to attend election events, including press conferences and polling stations.

Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003929139

[xchrom]

1. since the new and improved iraq is the step child of pnacers --

WHAT FUCKIN DEMOCRACY?

[jaxx]

4. Amen.

[geckosfeet]

2. How's that demockracey workin' out over there?

Guess they should have codified freedom of speech somewhere in that constitution that the bUShies drew up for them.

[baldguy]

3. No shoes

[No Elephants]

5. That Constitution that got adopted on our watch-- does it say anything about freedom of the

press, or did we cave on that, right along with sharia law?

[Doctor_J]

6. I'm surprised * didn't think of this for the WH press corpse

not you'd have been able to tell the difference