Abstract

Multiple organisations of professional journalists have been meeting under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1978 to develop ten principles of professional ethics in journalism, which are intended as a common ground and inspiration for national and regional codes of ethics. These principles include people’s right to truthful information, the journalist’s commitment to objective reality, and the social responsibility of the journalist to inform the public. Voluntary implementation is at the discretion of the respective organizations.