Clint Eastwood: Press ethics in focus - interview or fake?

Clint Eastwood: Press ethics in focus - interview or fake?

The Austrian press council dealt with a current case around Clint Eastwood and the "Kurier". In an interview that the "Kurier" published, Eastwood described the statements "fictitious". Press council managing director Alexander Warzilek confirmed that several reports have been received about this incident and is now being checked whether the impression of a current interview was given. This exam could have far -reaching consequences for the parties involved, especially with regard to the code of honor of Austrian journalism.

According to information from Exxpress.at it was found that all quotes from Eastwood were actually made from a "best-of" conversations. It was not identified as exclusive or new, which led to the misunderstandings. Journalist Elisabeth Sereda explained that the "courier" and she herself did not intend to awaken false impressions, which is an essential point in the review by the press council.

relevance of the code of honor

The code of honor for the Austrian press, the compliance with the press council, contains clear guidelines on accuracy and correctness in journalistic work. Point 2 This code, which emphasizes the obligation to comply with conscientious research and correctness, could be decisive in this case. An invented interview would be a clear ethics violation, and the media house would have to face the corresponding consequences that the press council defines.

like pressat.at , newspapers that adhere to the code of honor must publish the knowledge of the press council that are directed against them. This could mean for the "courier" that the editorial team would be forced to publish a correction or apology if the press council comes to the conclusion that the code has been violated.

outlook for the decisions

The evaluation of the case is now in the hands of Senate 3 of the press council. However, a decision is not expected before September due to the upcoming summer break. Warzilek emphasized that this case has so far been unique in the context of the press council, which ultimately also indicates the importance of the exact reporting in journalism.

according to pressat.de The press council is an essential platform for finding truth in freedom of the press and the protection of journalistic professional ethics. At a time when information is often spread quickly and without sufficient examination, this incident increases the discussion about the responsibility of media makers and the need for careful news review.