Online journalists group to make ethics code

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The Online Journalist Association (IWO) says it will finalize a code of ethics for online journalists by the year’s end.

“We hope the rules will also eradicate the problems of professionalism that occasionally trouble online journalists,” IWO co founder Iskandar Sitorus, said in Jakarta.

According to a survey released by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), online media journalists were responsible for a plurality of the complaints it received, citing woes with their verification and accuracy in covering the recent Jakarta gubernatorial election.

IWO chairman Budhi Chandra said the organization would also provide training and advocacy for online media contributors. “As more citizens rely on online media, the rights of the online journalists need to be protected,” Budhi, the owner of jurnalfoto.com, said.