The Media Ethics Council issued a written warning to all media outlets following reports on the arrest of a person in an investigation into alleged sexual abuse of a child. The Council called for respect for the presumption of innocence, personal rights and children's privacy, and asked that details which could directly or indirectly reveal the identity of the suspect or the child not be published.
The statement recalled that reports published during the day on the arrest had caused serious public concern. It said that, given the nature of the allegations and the importance of the case in terms of children's rights, the press must handle the matter with the utmost care and responsibility, in line with ethical principles.
The Council pointed out that not explicitly writing a person's name does not mean their identity is concealed. "The use in reports of distinguishing information such as age, profession, place of residence, or social or political position may lead to the indirect identification of the person, and in cases involving children, such information may reveal not only the identity of the suspect but also that of the child," the statement said. Stressing that indirect disclosure of the suspect's identity would also endanger the privacy of the child victim, it noted that when assessing details in reports, consideration must be given to what this information could reveal about the child and how it could affect the child's private life.
The statement also reminded that an arrest alone cannot be considered proof of guilt and that no one should be declared guilty before judicial proceedings are concluded. The Council asked that prejudicial language be avoided and that allegations be clearly distinguished from established facts.
Stating that the warning was not intended to downplay the seriousness of the case or restrict the public's right to information, the Council said: "Particularly in sensitive cases involving children, responsible journalism requires informing the public accurately while protecting the best interests, privacy and dignity of the child, respecting people's rights and using language respectful of the judicial process."
Underlining that even when strong public reactions arise, publishing every piece of information may not be necessary or ethical, the Council said: "The fact that a detail is accurate cannot be a justification for ignoring the consequences its publication may have." The statement concluded by emphasising that ethical journalism means not only conveying information but also considering the consequences that information may have and on whom, and that in cases involving children this responsibility is an inseparable part of professional ethics.
