INTRODUCTION

Trust is a precious value and asset. Most in the country have valued the birth of independent media and consider it to be a positive check on authoritarian tendencies in the government and other actors of the state as well as members of the public at large. However, media’s role in informing, educating and entertaining brings with it a huge responsibility. Freedom is not license. The social contract between media and its consumers however has been unwritten….until now.

We are truly proud to announce GEO Asool - (geo.tv/asool) our social contract with our viewers- who are our ultimate employers.
We believe that in order to safeguard most freedoms, some freedoms will have to be exchanged for responsibility. Some pressures are not a restraint but a guide. We believe that having Asool is not a cost but an investment, which in the long run pays through one’s brand.

It is requested that you provide feedback on http://www.geo.tv/asool and [email protected] by 1st of August, 2012. Also do you know anyone who has complained about media or GEO in particular? Please forward this email to them now!

This draft code will be improved based on the feedback from all stakeholders and be formally adopted by the Network on 14th of August, 2012 which also marks the 10th Anniversary of Geo. Your role will be critical and crucial.

We believe after releasing our promise to the public we are binding ourselves. Public pressure, through monitoring and feedback, will help our adherence and resolve to these guiding principles.

Feedback day kar GEO!

Kiyon Kay Yeh Asool Ki Baat Hey,



P.S.: GEO Asool documents have been compiled after a committee of reporters, hosts and members of our group’s editorial and management team, vetted seven different codes of conduct from reputable media and regulatory bodies across the world. Some of the best minds in the profession openly debated on what principles should bind us and keep us on the right path. However we believe that the draft documents contain many blind spots, and some parts may even be too idealistic in our context. Your feedback will show us the way.

Geo Asool comprises of 4 sections:

A) GEO Manifesto - Our values, goals and declared biases
This is the macro vision, the grand architecture plan that explains all our values and our goals as well as our likes and dislikes as an institution. This contains macro position statements on critical issues and sensitive issues and also contains macro policy guidelines from which we created the Internal Code of Conduct, Guidelines and Best Practices.

B) Best Practices- Guidelines on how Geo Manifesto translates day-to-day
These are tactical form of the strategic document, which is used to derive the operational guidelines and best practices that will help our producers, reporters and anchors execute and maintain our overall editorial policy and uphold our Asools.

C) TeamGEO Ethical Journalism Handbook
This is an internal ethics guidance document for journalists/TeamGeo members to use derived from best local and international practices.

D) Monitoring and Implementing Procedure: How we will monitor and implement the above
This document indicates how the macro/strategic policy vision as well as the tactical guidelines and best practices will be ensured in execution. The process flow and standard operating procedure is laid out through which different stages and steps ensure monitoring and compliance to the editorial policy of the institution.

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