RTNDA Canada Media Ethics and Communications Committee

TORONTO, April 30 /CNW/ - RTNDA Canada - The Association of Electronic
Journalists - is pleased to announce the formation of a new Media Ethics and
Communications Committee. The mandate of the Committee is to assist RTNDA
Canada in responding to journalistic issues facing Canadian broadcast
journalists.
The president of RTNDA Canada, Bob McLaughlin, says this new Committee
will provide expertise on broad journalistic questions as they arise.
"RTNDA needs to provide leadership and be responsive to issues, which
confront working journalists in this country. These issues can range from
cameras in our courtrooms to questions of journalistic independence," says
McLaughlin. "This Committee will assist the executive of RTNDA Canada in
developing a response to broad-based emerging issues."
The committee will use the RTNDA Code of Ethics as an important resource
as it works with the President and the Executive Committee to determine
appropriate responses.
McLaughlin has named former RTNDA Canada President Gerry Phelan to chair
the three-person Committee. CTV News President Robert Hurst and John Hinnen,
Vice President and General Manager of 680 News for Rogers Broadcasting, will
serve as Committee members.
"We are privileged to have these three highly respected journalists serve
in this capacity. Their experiences in developing journalistic policy and
their service to RTNDA Canada makes them the ideal candidates for this
Committee," says McLaughlin.

RTNDA Canada is the voice for electronic journalists and news managers in
Canada. Its members recognize the responsibility of broadcast journalists to
promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of
public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and
ideas. The RTNDA Canada Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast
Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in our profession.