What is ethics like in Australian media?

Need help.. Why can't media ethics be enforced?

• I am working on a paper about media ethics and our teacher asks "If ethical codes are designed to promote better conduct from media professionals are unable to be enforced, should we even bother having them?". What I can't seem to understand is how are they not able to be enforced? Just because they can get released before anyone can do anything about it? They still get in trouble don't they?? or just internally to keep reputation?

• Answer:

  The problem is, unless you libel someone, there are no legal penalties for inventing quotes or people, doctoring photographs or inventing stories. Journalistic ethics can be set down and formalized, but they're not the law - they're just guidelines that all boil down to, "just tell the truth." Yes, there's a very good chance you'll get fired and wreck your chances of continuing your career if you violate ethical standards, and while that's something of a deterrent, it doesn't stop you from being unethical. Really, if you're unethical to the point of being the next Blair or Glass, you stand to gain a certain level of fame/infamy, and maybe the chance to go write a book and make even more than you did as a journalist.