IFJ Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists

The Charter has 16 articles and a preamble.

The preamble stresses journalists' responsibility towards the public, as the journalist's mission is justified by the right of everyone to have access to information and ideas.

The 16 articles list and define duties and rights regarding ethics: the first duty of the journalist is to have respect for the facts (art. 1), and the journalist shall defend the principles of freedom and honesty (art. 2), reporting only in accordance with facts of which the origin is known (art. 3).

Regarding methodology, the journalist shall use only fair methods to obtain information (art. 4) and the urgency shall not prevail on verification (art. 5); he/she shall rectify errors (art. 6) and protect sources (art. 7), respect privacy (art. 8) and avoid facilitating discrimination (art. 9).

The journalist shall avoid distortion of facts and defamation (art. 19) and should not consider himself/herself an auxiliary of the police (art. 11), but show solidarity with colleagues (art. 12). Journalist's freedom should not be used to serve any other interest (art. 13) and should be preserved together with independence and respect for the methods of collection of information (art. 14).

Journalists will observe the principles stated in the Charter (art. 15) and recognise the jurisdiction of independent self-regulatory bodies (art. 16).