Shared his thoughts journalists representing various media. The discussion was held with participation of the chairman of the committee on ethics of the public association "Belarusian Association of Journalists" Anatoly Gulyaev.

The first code of ethics of journalists appeared in 1923 in Sweden. He appeared forced: the law on freedom of the press adopted in 1866 allowed almost everything, so the Swedish journalists themselves were to introduce ethical standards, which consolidated in the Code.

Code of Ethics "Belarusian Association of Journalists" was approved at the congress of the organization in 2006. It was the second in a row this document in Belarus. The first code of professional ethics of journalists to the Belarusian Union of Journalists in 1995. As noted, opening the discussion, Anatoly Gulyaev, both codes are very similar, each of them in his own good, but in recent years there have been certain changes in the media. There are new media and a host of other innovations that have led to the necessary changes to the code of ethics of journalists.

The Commission on the Ethics of BAJ is composed of seven persons: Anatoly Gulyaev, Valery Karbalevich, Marina Zagorskaya, Tatiana Ravyaka, Dmitry Podberezsky, Andrzej Poczobut, Sergey Vaganov.

Says Anatoly Gulyaev: "We consider the conflicts of a different order. In the first place – is a violation of copyright: the theft or improper handling of a foreign information. There are a number of controversial issues online that need to be addressed.

For example, a material for Vladimir Kondrus, then it was removed. Is this a violation? Overall, the story is very heavy, "Naša Niva" newspaper published an article and pictures of Vladimir Kondrus, which the author calls "a provocateur, hitting the windows in the House of Government," without giving any argument, and without resorting to the most Vladimir Kondrus for an explanation. But existing code BAJ requires treatment to the two sides of the conflict, and especially to the one who is accused.

The most horrifying thing in this conflict is that after the publication of Kondrus arrested. He went on hunger strike, brought himself to complete exhaustion, and only after that, "Naša Niva" asked: "Who is he? Provocateur or an activist," That's what happens and the end times when we turn to what is called "negative hero ". If there was an attempt to talk to the man and give him the floor – it would have been otherwise, and publication was the reason for the arrest.

Therefore, one should always remember how our word will respond. It is very important. We must never forget the observance of ethical standards of journalism. At the time, changing public opinion, journalists are to a large extent contributed to the end of the three wars: the Boer of 1899-1902, American-Vietnamese and the first Chechen.

You have to understand that ethical principles may in fact be very much, and their compliance or non-compliance may have an impact both on the life of an individual, and the fate of so many people."

In  Viciebsk journalists to the head of the Ethics Committee of the BAJ had some questions. In particular, there was a rebuke to the non-generic nature of the Code. So, it does not affect the transfer of the problem of the primary authors of the material to colleagues, which in turn make it on the air already with his comments. After transmitting the opinion of the author of the material does not take into account that is not consistent with the principles of copyright. This practice violates both material and legal aspects.

In general,  Viciebsk journalists expressed understanding and support for the efforts of the Ethics Commission in eliminating the negative aspects of journalism that hinder and complicate the process of information transfer.

S. Horki