Comic? Isn’t funny!

When I first saw the comic that was published on Berita Harian regarding the cartoon depicting the devastating tsunami and earthquake that swept Japan and killed thousands, I felt angry and irritated. It left me thinking, how could such thing even get published to the newspapers? Due to the publication of the comic, the publication has received tremendous criticisms by readers who accuse the editors as being “inconsiderate and distasteful” (CNN 2011).

Source: http://www.myvisitingcard.com/2011/berita-harian-malaysian-newspaper-apologises-for-tsunami-cartoon.html

Based on my point of view, I feel it is not ethical for the newspaper to publish this comic because it is not right to make a joke on the people who are suffering and struggling due to the twin disasters that swept Japan on the 11^th March 2011. However, it is indeed true that journalists have code of ethics to follow. Based on the SPJ code of ethics, journalists are never allowed to distort the content of news photos or video. From this, it shows that the person who drew this comic did not respect the victims who are involved in the twin disasters. Apart from that, there is another similar case that happened back in year 2005 where a Danish newspaper posted 12 editorial cartoons which resembles the Islamic prophet Muhamad.

Source: http://face-of-muhammed.blogspot.com/

From this cartoons, it can be seen that the cartoonist or journalist have bridge the NUJ code of ethics clause 10 which is “Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation”. Based on these two cases, what happened to the gatekeeper of information in these organizations? How can these be allowed to be published. A journalist’s job is to report about truth (NUJ 2006) but not discriminating others.

From all this, some people might think it is funny but in reality, these are not seen as jokes but seen as a form of discrimination.

References

NUJ Code of ethics, 2006, viewed 12^th June 2011 < http://media.gn.apc.org/nujcode.html>