INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS' NETWORK
December 13, 2004
BULGARIAN MEDIA UNITE BEHIND NEW ETHICAL CODE
Representatives from media throughout Bulgaria have
signed a new ethical code, committing themselves to providing the public with
accurate and unbiased information.
The November 25 signing followed months
of discussions and consultation. A team of Bulgarian and international media
experts helped develop the code as part of the BBC Phare Media Support Project
to improve journalism standards. The code addresses information gathering, the
protection of children, non-discrimination, coverage of crimes and brutality,
and editorial independence.
The code also calls for the creation of
a Council of Journalistic Ethics, which would oversee implementation of the new
code.
Project consultant Yashe Lange spoke at
the signing ceremony. Lange said this marked the first time that journalists and
owners, print and electronic media, media outlets and associations, and city and
regional media had united behind a single code.
Signers included the Association of
Bulgarian Broadcasters, the Bulgarian Media Coalition, the Union of Bulgarian
Journalists, the Union of Publishers in Bulgaria, and the Association for
Regional Media. Forty-five media outlets added their signatures immediately
following the ceremony.
The project continues to accept
additional signatures. Bulgarian media outlets and organizations that would like
to sign should contact the BBC Phare Project Office at (+359) 02-980-77-45.
An English version of the new code:
http://www.ijnet.org/FE_Article/codeethics.asp?UILang=1&CId=263653&CIdLang=1.
A Bulgarian version:
http://www.i-learn.co.uk/BulgariaEN/GetFile.aspx?id=4799.
For more information:
http://www.i-learn.co.uk/BulgariaEN/News/2004/11/25/News4820/.
source: IJNet287
published by: Daniela Mathis dma@medienhilfe.ch
date of release on this site 15/12/04
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