Preamble
Freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right of any person. Every duty and liability of a journalist derives from the right of society to be informed regarding events and opinions.
Ethical principle:
Providing information
This principle was also found in:
The Charter
PRINCIPLE 1
Journalist must respect the truth and the right of society, in order to receive accurate information.
Ethical principle:
Accuracy
This principle was also found in:
PRINCIPLE 2
It is unacceptable to coerce a journalist to express an opinion against his/her conscience.
Ethical principle:
Not acting against one’s convictions
This principle was also found in:
PRINCIPLE 3
Journalist must report information based solely upon facts from confirmed sources.
Ethical principle:
Verification of information
This principle was also found in:
PRINCIPLE 4
Journalists must only rely on scrupulous and fair methods when collecting information, photo materials, or documents.
Ethical principle:
Fairness in gathering information
This principle was also found in:
PRINCIPLE 5
The media is liable to correct substantially incorrect information which misleads society.
Ethical principle:
Correction of errors by media
This principle was also found in:
PRINCIPLE 6
Journalists have a moral responsibility not to disclose confidential sources.
PRINCIPLE 7
Journalists must understand the dangers of encouraging discrimination on the part of the media; therefore, he/she must exert every effort to avoid discrimination of any person on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political and other opinion, national or social origin, or any other grounds.
PRINCIPLE 8
Journalists are liable to protect children rights; in his/her professional activity, given the highest priority to children interests, neither can journalists prepare nor publish articles or reports regarding children that may be harmful to them. Journalist must not interview, as well as photograph, a youth under the age of 16 on issues related to the welfare of the given or any other youth without the consent of the parents or the guardian.
PRINCIPLE 9
Journalists must make a clear distinction between editorial materials and materials related to marketing, advertising, and those ?nanced by a sponsor.
Ethical principle:
Sponsored or reimbursed goods by third parties
This principle was also found in:
PRINCIPLE 10
Journalists must pay respect to privacy, and not intrude into the private lives of people unless there is special public interest.
Ethical principle:
Privacy (and the public interest)
This principle was also found in:
PRINCIPLE 11
Journalists must consider the following actions as grave professional offences:
- Deliberate distortion of facts;
Ethical principle:
Distortion of facts or forgery
This principle was also found in:
- Reception of any kind of bribery, gifts, or other benefits in exchange for influencing a journalists professional activity
- Plagiarism.