The Ethical Charter for Syrian Media “ECSM” concluded a dialogue forum on “the complaints system and discussion on cooperation mechanisms to combat violations and stereotypes against women in media content” on 27 July 2024, held via the Zoom application.
The forum was attended by 31 journalists, activists from the Syrian civil society, decision-makers from women’s initiatives, and organizations concerned with women’s issues from various geographical regions inside and outside Syria.
The forum’s agenda was divided into three main sessions, facilitated by expert Khawla Dunia, a consultant and trainer in gender issues. The second and third sessions included practical applications and an open discussion on violations against women in media content and the mechanisms of cooperation and coordination between media outlets and civil society organizations to combat these violations.
In the first session, attendees discussed the standards of the Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct for media work (The ethical charter standards) and the importance of the complaints system as a tool for accountability. They also discussed the Complaints Committee’s working mechanisms and the procedures for addressing complaints received. Additionally, the executive instructions for the committee were presented, along with a detailed overview of the complaint process and the method for filling out the complaint form (Complaint Form – ECSM website).
The second session featured an open discussion among participants about violations against women in media content, with the facilitator presenting some examples. Many ideas were also proposed on the importance of raising audience awareness about the right to hold media accountable and the use of the complaint tool.
During the third session, participants discussed mechanisms for cooperation between media outlets and civil society organizations to combat and reduce violations and stereotypes against women in media content.
Journalist Ahmed Nazir, working at Radio Rozana, said: “The forum was an opportunity to exchange ideas and suggestions that contribute to enhancing the role of the audience in monitoring published media content and holding media outlets accountable through the complaints committee in ECSM”.
He added that the forum also addressed the most prominent forms of violations against women in media content, and participants proposed mechanisms to reduce these violations and activate the role of the audience in identifying and reporting them through the complaints committee.
Journalist Zina Abdi, Vice Chairman of the Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, said: “The content was exceptional and added a lot to my knowledge. Through it, I learned about the complaints system and how to submit a complaint according to the established professional standards. I also got to know the nature of the ECSM’s work and benefited from their previous experiences in handling complaints”.
She suggested holding regular seminars and forums, especially concerning networking between media outlets and civil society organizations to inform the audience about the complaints system and the mechanisms adopted in parallel with ethical and professional standards.
She continued that as journalists: “We must be highly aware of the complaints system as it is an essential part of our work framework, and we should prepare positive and informative messages that increase audience awareness and knowledge of the complaints system”.
Journalist Loren Sabri, a program producer and presenter, explained that the forum was important and rich in the information it provided, especially regarding the explanations of the complaints system and how to handle complaints. She noted that the discussions among participants were constructive and fruitful.
She said: “The forum provided a good space for dialogue, and I benefited from skills in identifying where violations occur in media content and how to submit a complaint through the electronic form provided by the ECSM’s website.” She explained that they learned about the complaints system as a tool for accountability and the importance of educating the audience about their right to complain and being partners in media content creation.
She added that the participants made several suggestions on ways to mitigate and combat violations or professional and ethical misconduct in media content, as well as combatting these violations against women, especially since they are the group most likely to face violations. She emphasized the importance of encouraging them to file complaints against content that violates professional and ethical standards.
Journalist Hamza Al-Ma’aroufi, from the Rased Platform, said the forum was rich and interactive, providing ample space for inquiries about the ECSM, the complaints system, and the work of the system’s committees. He noted that the complaints system “will play an active role in the future of independent Syrian media”.
Regarding the importance of the work of the complaints and review committees, Al-Ma’aroufi added: “Any organized journalistic Charter must have a clear plan and methodology for dealing with the media outlets that sign it, which is lacking in most Arab journalistic Charters. What distinguishes the ECSM is the independent decision-making power of the complaints committee, separate from any signatory media outlet”.
He suggested establishing another committee for litigation and complaints to resolve complaints or violations that might occur within the media outlets themselves, as “a certain outlet might defame or falsely accuse and spread misleading or false rumors against another media outlet or civil organization”.
Journalist Ahmed Hamish said “The forum was held at a time when violations in journalism and media have increased significantly. The forum was an important opportunity to explain these violations, ways to address them, and how to file complaints, as well as which violations are subject to accountability”.
He explained that the participants’ interventions on how to cooperate between journalists and media outlets on the one hand and civil society organizations on the other were crucial to creating a socially aware environment regarding the dangers of such wrong practices and their negative impact on society.
He emphasized the importance of the complaints committee’s work in receiving complaints, verifying, and addressing them, pointing out the consensus among the participants on the need to establish an accountability mechanism through the enactment of laws and regulations in cooperation with local authorities, unions, and media associations to hold anyone who violates media ethics accountable and deter them.
He added that the forum’s participants noted the need to launch awareness campaigns for activists and society simultaneously to reduce violations until “we reach a society that respects human privacy and journalistic ethics”.
Community activist Abeer Hashim explained that the discussions and interventions during the forum were rich and fruitful, noting that the diversity of participants from different backgrounds, alongside journalists and civil society workers from various parts of Syria, added a special character to the forum and enriched the discussion sessions with practical applications and live examples.
She added that the respect, acceptance, and exchange of opinions during the forum reflected the level of societal awareness needed today. What occurred during the second and third sessions, including presenting examples related to stereotypes and professional violations against women in media content, gave a positive impression of the forum.
She said: “Talking about the work mechanism of the complaints committee, its nature, the diversity of experts in the committee, and the method of submitting complaints, especially when everyone’s opinions were considered to reach recommendations for developing the work of the complaints committee and the proposed mechanisms for it, and the necessity of networking between civil society organizations and the committee under the supervision of the ECSM, was important and motivating for us as participants and activists in civil society and as journalists to raise awareness among the Syrian audience about their right to complain as a tool of accountability and to improve media speech to achieve the desired goal: media free of professional violations”.
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