Senegal Media Watchdog Condemns Reporting on Families in Morality Cases

Dakar, Senegal – The Council for the Observation of Ethical Rules and Deontology in the Media (CORED) issued a strong rebuke Tuesday, February 17, 2026, condemning the increasing practice of some Senegalese media outlets to publish details about the families of individuals implicated in legal cases involving moral offenses.

CORED’s statement expresses “deep regret” over what it describes as a “systematic” tendency to allude to the family and close relations of those under investigation. The regulatory body asserts that this practice undermines fundamental journalistic principles and infringes upon the right to privacy.

“While the right to information is a cornerstone of democracy, it must not be exercised at the expense of private life,” the statement reads. CORED specifically cited Article 17 of the Senegalese Press Code, which mandates that journalists and media technicians respect the privacy of individuals, and Article 7 of the Charter of Senegalese Journalists, which reinforces this obligation.

The council emphasized that family members are often “collateral victims” of media exposure they did not seek. CORED argued that mentioning an accused person’s ancestry or family connections serves no public interest and constitutes a “serious attack on their honor and social consideration,” particularly when those relatives bear no responsibility for the alleged offenses.

CORED further invoked Article 18 of the Press Code, which prohibits allusions of a discriminatory or stigmatizing nature. The organization condemned what it characterized as a “mercantile logic” – the pursuit of clicks and sensationalism – as an unacceptable justification for these ethical breaches.

The regulatory body called on journalists to exercise discernment and individual responsibility in their reporting. CORED stated it would remain “attentive to any violation” of ethical and deontological rules and reserved the right to refer cases to its Tribunal of Peers for potential sanctions. The council’s alert comes as several sensitive judicial cases are anticipated in the coming months, according to reports.

Dakaractu.com reported that CORED is reminding journalists to adhere to the principles of human dignity and privacy when covering such cases. The organization is urging media professionals to be mindful of the potential harm caused to individuals and their families.