S.L. 350.26 Art. 5

Discrimination and respect for National and Ethnic Values

5.1 The presentation or portrayal of people in a way which is likely to encourage denigration of or discrimination against any person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality or colour must be avoided. This requirement is not intended to prevent the broadcast of material which is factual, or the expression of genuinely-held opinion in a news or current affairs programme, or in the legitimate context of a humorous, satirical or dramatic work.

5.2 The broadcasting media must at all times be aware of the danger that arises when media, deliberately or by inadvertence, encourages discrimination and intolerance. Mindful of this danger, the broadcasting media have to be aware of the fact that they cannot incite or inflame hatred or inequality on grounds of ethnicity, nationality, race or colour, or incite criminal acts of violence as all these are prohibited by law. 5.3 The act of remaining impartial when citing events of racial hatred may be tantamount to supporting them. Hence all broadcasters must clearly state their position against racial discrimination. 5.4 Broadcasters are to avoid prejudicial or insulting references to a person’s ethnic group, nationality, race or colour. Reference to a person’s ethnic group, nationality, race or colour must be made only when directly relevant to the event being reported. 5.5 A broadcaster has to respect national and ethnic values. In doing so, a broadcaster must not air material, which encourages discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, race, nationality or colour.