Casandra Castro

Public Relations Officer

LSTD 2106

November 4, 2021

Press Release

Journalism is the concrete form of this expression that has grown in power over a period. The

objective of journalism is to serve the people with news, views, comments, and information. The

influence of media can make or unmake any individual, institution, or thought. However, the media is

obligated to follow specific codes of ethics to continue informing the public of all news.

Endowed with all these responsibilities and privileges, Metro Media Group ultimately believes in

all the ethics and norms of media houses. Concerning the recent misreporting of our media house's

fabricated scores of a tax collector in Math's class, we take full responsibility for the same. Without any

intent to defame the tax collector, we, as a media house, accept unethical, irresponsible reporting from

our end, which we don't stand for and have never stood for. In doing so, it has been found that the

unethical nature of the report implicates the violation of various principles of journalism. The following

principles have not been met with while printing the news concerned.

With the publication of the article, we have violated the Accuracy and Fairness principle. The

Press shall eschew publication of inaccurate, baseless, graceless, misleading, or distorted material. All

sides of the core issue or subject should be reported. Unjustified rumors and surmises should not be set

forth as facts. Another principle that was not considered was the Pre-Publication Verification Principle.
On receipt of a report containing imputations or comments against a citizen, the editor should check

with due care and attention its factual accuracy apart from other authentic sources- with the person or

the organization concerned to elicit their or its version, comments, or reaction and publish the same

alongside with due correction in the report where necessary. In the absence of response, a footnote to

that effect may be appended to the information. The media should also not publish anything manifestly

defamatory or libelous against any individual/organization unless, after due care and verification, there

is sufficient reason/evidence to believe that it is accurate, and its publication will be for the public good.

This is against the caution against Defamatory Writings Principle. The last principle that was overruled

was the Right to Privacy Principle. The Press shall not intrude or invade an individual's privacy unless

outweighed by genuine overriding public interest, not being a prurient or morbid curiosity. So, however,

once a matter becomes a matter of public record, the right to privacy no longer exists. It becomes a

subject for comment by the press and the media.

Hence, taking cognizance of breach of the principles mentioned above, Metro Media Group

takes complete responsibility for its articles and apologies to the tax officer and the public. We will keep

attempting to adhere to the fundamental ethical principles of journalism and avoid actions as such.

Thank you

Casandra Castro

Public Relations Officer