Journalism ethics and standards

Journalistic ethics and standards comprise principles of ethics and good practice applicable to journalists. This subset of media ethics is known as journalism's professional "code of ethics" and the "canons of journalism".^[1] The basic codes and canons commonly appear in statements by professional journalism associations and individual print, broadcast, and online news organizations.

There are around 400 codes covering journalistic work around the world. While various codes may differ in the detail of their content and come from different cultural traditions, most share common elements including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy and fact-based communications, independence, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, respect for others and public accountability, as these apply to the gathering, editing and dissemination of newsworthy information to the public.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Like many broader ethical systems, the ethics of journalism include the principle of "limitation of harm". This may involve enhanced respect for vulnerable groups and the withholding of certain details from reports, such as the names of minor children, crime victims' names, or information not materially related to the news report where the release of such information might, for example, harm someone's reputation or put them at undue risk.^[5]^[6] There has also been discussion and debate within the journalism community regarding appropriate reporting of suicide and mental health, particularly with regard to verbiage.^[7]

Some journalistic codes of ethics, notably some European codes,^[8] also include a concern with discriminatory references in news based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12] The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe approved (in 1993) Resolution 1003 on the Ethics of Journalism, which recommends that journalists respect the presumption of innocence, in particular in cases that are still sub judice.^[13]

^ ^a ^b "Statement of Principles". American Society of News Editors (ASNE). Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
^ "Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists". IFJ. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
^ "APME – Statement of Ethical Principles". apme.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008.
^ "SPJ Code of Ethics". Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). September 6, 2014. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
^ Internews Europe: Media Awards – Good Journalism Archived 2009-12-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 9, 2009
^ "Truth and the Media" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2009. (50.1 KB) Dean, Catherine. Strathmore University Ethics Conference, 2006 (see p. 11, Harm limitation principle) Retrieved on June 9, 2009
^ Ribeiro, Eudora; Granado, António (June 25, 2022). "Suicide, a Topic that Opens a Debate on What Journalism is for: A Study on Portuguese Journalists' Perceptions". Journalism Studies. 23 (11): 1377–1395. doi:10.1080/1461670X.2022.2091642. S2CID 250057816. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
^ Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe – Resolution 1003 (1993) on the ethics of journalism Archived 2009-06-26 at the Wayback Machine (see clause 33)
^ UK – Press Complaints Commission – Codes of Practice Archived 2012-12-14 at the Wayback Machine (see item 12, "Discrimination")
^ (in Italian) Italy – FNSI's La Carta dei Doveri (The Chart of Duties) (section "Principi")
^ (in Spanish) Spain – FAPE's Código Deontológico (Deontological Code) Archived June 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (see Principios Generales, item 7, "a")
^ "Brazil – FENAJ's Code of Ethics" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2009. (see Article 6, item XIV)
^ PACE Resolution 1003 (1993) on the Ethics of Journalism Archived 2009-06-26 at the Wayback Machine (see clause 22)

[asne-1] "Statement of Principles". American Society of News Editors (ASNE). Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.

[2] "Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists". IFJ. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

[3] "APME – Statement of Ethical Principles". apme.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008.

[spj-4] "SPJ Code of Ethics". Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). September 6, 2014. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2015.

[5] Internews Europe: Media Awards – Good Journalism Archived 2009-12-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 9, 2009

[6] "Truth and the Media" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2009. (50.1 KB) Dean, Catherine. Strathmore University Ethics Conference, 2006 (see p. 11, Harm limitation principle) Retrieved on June 9, 2009

[7] Ribeiro, Eudora; Granado, António (June 25, 2022). "Suicide, a Topic that Opens a Debate on What Journalism is for: A Study on Portuguese Journalists' Perceptions". Journalism Studies. 23 (11): 1377–1395. doi:10.1080/1461670X.2022.2091642. S2CID 250057816. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.

[8] Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe – Resolution 1003 (1993) on the ethics of journalism Archived 2009-06-26 at the Wayback Machine (see clause 33)

[9] UK – Press Complaints Commission – Codes of Practice Archived 2012-12-14 at the Wayback Machine (see item 12, "Discrimination")

[10] (in Italian) Italy – FNSI's La Carta dei Doveri (The Chart of Duties) (section "Principi")

[11] (in Spanish) Spain – FAPE's Código Deontológico (Deontological Code) Archived June 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (see Principios Generales, item 7, "a")

[12] "Brazil – FENAJ's Code of Ethics" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2009. (see Article 6, item XIV)

[13] PACE Resolution 1003 (1993) on the Ethics of Journalism Archived 2009-06-26 at the Wayback Machine (see clause 22)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]