The Ethical Code of the Romanian Press Club.
Article 1
A journalist has the primary duty of reporting the truth, whatever consequences this may have for him/herself; that obligation follows from the public’s constitutional right to be accurately informed.
Article 2
A journalist can disclose only information about whose truthfulness he/she is positively sure, after checking – usually, by crossing several trustworthy sources.
Article 3
A journalist has no right to present his/her opinions as facts. A news story has to be accurate, objective and should not contain personal beliefs.
Article 4
A journalist must respect the private lives of citizens; he/she shall not use methods that are forbidden by law in order to obtain information or pictures of people.
When the private behaviour of public figures might have consequences on society as a whole, this principle of non intrusion into private lives can be ignored.
It is preferable that the under-aged, sick people and the victims of crimes benefit from confidentiality as regards their identity.
Race, nationality, membership of certain minority groups (religious, linguistic, sexual) shall be mentioned only in cases when that information is relevant to the matter at hand.
Article 5
A journalist will insure that all parties involved should be heard, in case of a difference of opinion. No accusation will be cast without the accused party having the opportunity to express its point of view. A journalist will strive to respect the principle of reasonable doubt, so that no individual will be labelled as criminal until a law court has said so. Publishing comments and taking sides in matters that are being judged in courts should be avoided. This does not exclude objective reporting of facts related to the trial. A journalist does not substitute for public institutions and authorities.
Article 6
A journalist will keep professional secrecy over the sources of his/her information when obtained on a confidential basis. It is a matter of his/her conscience to respect confidentiality towards sources, even in law courts. The confidentiality of information sources is guaranteed by international rules to which Romania subscribes.
Article 7
A journalist has a civic responsibility to contribute to enforcing law and social justice. In the cases when he/she is in a position to find out abuses or law breaking, accordingly to the clause of conscience, a journalist has the right to ignore any pressure to influence his/her decision.
Article 8
In exerting his/her profession and in maintaining his/her relations with public authorities or different organisations, a journalist is not allowed to enter into any arrangements that may affect his/her impartiality or independence.
Article 9
It is professionally wrong for a journalist to distort the information on purpose or to make accusations that are not founded.
Article 10
The journalist has the duty to make the necessary corrections in case inaccurate information gets published by his/her fault.
Signed:
Dumitru Tinu, Adevarul
Luciam Avramescu, A.M. Press
Florin Bratescu, Antena 1
Octavian Stireanu, Azi
Laurentiu Ilie, Bursa
Horia Alexandrescu, Cronica Romana
Cornel Nistorescu, Evenimentul Zilei
Ileana Lucaciu, Expres Magazin
Constantin Dumitru, Flagrant
Marius Tuca, Jurnalul National
Mihnea Vasiliu, Mediafax
Radu Bogdan, Nine’O’Clock
Adrian Sarbu, Pro TV
Dan Andronic, Prima TV
Octavian Andronic, Ringier
Bogdan Ficeac, Romania Libera
Vartan Arachelian, TVR International
Sorin-Rosca Stanescu, Ziua
Gheorghe Voicu, National
Valentin Paunescu, Curierul National
Stere Gulea, TVR
Mihai Tatulici, Privirea
Author: Gabriel Stanescu, TVR
[Source: www.rjionline.org]