INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS IN JOURNALISM
Principle I:
PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO TRUE INFORMATION
People and individuals have the right to acquire an objective picture of reality by means of accurate and comprehensive information as well as to express themselves freely through the various media of culture and communication.
Principle II:
THE JOURNALIST’S DEDICATION TO OBJECTIVE REALITY
The foremost task of the journalist is to serve the people’s right to true and authentic information through an honest dedication to objective reality whereby facts are reported conscientiously in their proper context, pointing out their essential connections and without causing distortions, with due deployment of the creative capacity of the journalist, so that the public is provided with adequate material to facilitate the formation of an accurate and comprehensive picture of the world in which the origin, nature and essence of events, processes and states of affairs are understood as objectively as possible.
Principle III:
THE JOURNALIST’S SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Information in journalism is understood as social good and not as a commodity, which means that the journalist shares responsibility for the information transmitted and is thus accountable not only to those controlling the media but ultimately to the public at large, including various social interests. The journalist’s social responsibility requires that he or she will act under all circumstances in conformity with a personal ethical consciousness.
Principle IV:
THE JOURNALIST’S PERSONAL INTEGRITY
The social role of the journalist demands that the profession maintains high standards of integrity, including the journalist’s right to refrain from working against his or her conviction or from disclosing sources of information as well as the right to participate in the decision-making of the medium in which he or she is employed. The integrity of the profession does not permit the journalist to accept any form of bribe or the promotion of any private interest contrary to the general welfare. Likewise, it belongs to professional ethics to respect intellectual property and, in particular, to refrain from plagiarism.
Principle V:
PUBLIC ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION
The nature of the profession demands that the journalist promote access by the public to information and participation of the public in the media, including the right to correction or rectification and the right to reply.
Principle VI:
RESPECT FOR PRIVACY AND HUMAN DIGNITY
An integral part of the professional standards of the journalist is respect for the right of the individual to privacy and human dignity, in conformity with provisions of international and national law concerning protection of the rights and the reputation of others, prohibiting libel, calumny, slander and defamation.
Principle VII:
RESPECT FOR PUBLIC INTEREST
The professional standards of the journalist prescribe due respect for the national community, its democratic institutions and public morals.
Principle VIII:
RESPECT FOR UNIVERSAL VALUES AND DIVERSITY OF CULTURES
A true journalist stands fro the universal values of humanism, above all peace, democracy, human rights, social progress and national liberation, while respecting the distinctive character, value and dignity of each culture, as well as the right of each people freely to choose and develop its political, social, economic and cultural system. Thus the journalist participates actively in the social transformation towards democratic betterment of society and contributes through dialogue to a climate of confidence in international relations conducive to peace and justice everywhere, to détente, disarmament and national development. It belongs to the ethics of the profession that the journalist be aware of relevant provisions contained in international conventions, declarations and resolutions.
Principle IX:
ELIMINATION OF WAR AND OTHER GREAT EVILS CONFRONTING HUMANITY
The ethical commitment to the universal values of humanism calls for the journalist to abstain from any justification of, or incitement to, wars of aggression and the arms race, specially in nuclear weapons, and all other forms of violence, hatred and discrimination, specially racialism and apartheid, oppression by tyrannical regimes, colonialism and neocolonialism, as well as other evils which afflict humanity, such as poverty, malnutrition and diseases. By doing so, the journalist can help eliminate ignorance and understanding among peoples, make nationals of a country sensitive to the needs and desires of others, ensure respect for the rights and dignity of all nations, all peoples and all individuals without distinction of race, sex, language, nationality, religion or philosophical conviction.
Principle X:
PROMOTION OF A NEW WORLD INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ORDER
The journalist operates in the contemporary world within the framework of a movement towards new international relations in general and a new international information order in particular. This new order, understood as an integral part of the New International Economic Order, is aimed at decolonization and democratization of the field of information and communication, both nationally and internationally, on the basis of peaceful coexistence among peoples and with full respect for their cultural identity. The journalist has a special obligation to promote the process of democratization of international relations in the field of information, in particular by safeguarding and fostering peaceful and friendly relations among States and peoples.
By way of an appendix to her book, The Manipulated Press: A History of Philippine Journalism since 1945 (second edition), writer Rosalinda Pineda-Ofreneo shares with us these principles, along with the following explanation: “The UNESCO has conducted consultative meetings with international and regional organizations representing some 400,000 working journalists since 1978. In such meetings, participants expressed support for the UNESCO Declaration on Fundamental Principles Concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War. They also came out with a common understanding of various principles of journalistic ethics culled upon from existing codes and international legal instruments. (This declaration of International Principles) is the output of the fourth UNESCO consultative meeting held in
Source: The book “Press Freedom: The People’s Right” by Ed Aurelio C. Reyes, pp. 161-165.
Retyped for information campaign by: Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
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