Declaration of duties and rights

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Swiss Press Council

Conseil suisse de la presse
Consiglio svizzero della stampa

Preamble In order to be able to fulfill the

The right to information, freedom of journalistic duties in independence and
expression and criticism is a in the required quality, appropriate
fundamental human right. professional framework conditions are
required; these are the subject of the
Journalists ensure the socially following declaration of the rights of
necessary discourse. Their duties and journalists.
rights derive from this obligation.
Journalists worthy of this designation
Journalists' responsibility to the public consider it their duty to faithfully
takes precedence over any other, observe the principles of this
especially their responsibility to their Declaration. In recognition of the
employers and to state bodies. existing laws of each country, they
accept in professional matters only the
Journalists voluntarily impose upon judgment of their professional
themselves the rules to be observed in colleagues, the Press Council or similarly
the performance of their information legitimated professional ethical bodies.
duties; these are set forth in the In particular, they reject any
following Declaration of Journalists' interference by a governmental or any
Duties. other body. It is fair reporting to publish
at least a brief summary of the opinions
of the press council concerning one's
own medium.
Declaration of duties
of the journalists

Journalists are guided by the principle of fairness in obtaining, selecting, editing,

interpreting and commenting on information, with regard to the sources, towards
the persons affected by the reporting and towards the public. They consider the
following obligations to be essential:

1. not edit images for the purpose of

They stick to the truth regardless of the misleadingly falsifying the original. You
consequences for them and are guided are not committing plagiarism.
by the public's right to know the truth.
5.
2. They shall correct any report published
They defend the freedom of informa- by them, the material content of which
tion, the resulting rights, the freedom of is found to be wholly or partially
comment and criticism, and the incorrect.
independence and prestige of their
profession. 6.
They maintain editorial secrecy and do
3. not disclose the sources of confidential
They publish only information, information.
documents, images and sounds whose
sources are known to them. They do 7.
not suppress important elements of They shall respect the privacy of
information and do not distort facts, individuals, unless the public interest
documents, images and sounds or requires otherwise. You refrain from
opinions expressed by others. They anonymous and factually unjustified
designate unconfirmed reports, picture accusations.
and sound montages explicitly as such.
8.
4. They respect human dignity and refrain
They do not use unfair methods when from discriminatory references in their
obtaining information, sounds, images reporting in text, image and sound,
and documents. They do not edit or let which include ethnic or national
affiliation, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, illnesses as well as bodily
and sexual orientation.
 Swiss Press Council
Conseil suisse de la presse
Consiglio svizzero della stampa

The limits of reporting in text, pictures 10.

and sound about wars, terrorist acts, In their professional activities as
disasters and catastrophes lie where journalists, they avoid any form of
the suffering and feelings of those commercial advertising and do not
affected are not taken into account. The accept any conditions from advertisers.
limits of reporting in text, image and
sound about wars, terrorist acts, 11.
accidents and catastrophes lie where They shall accept journalistic
the suffering of those affected and the instructions only from the members of
feelings of their relatives are not their editorial staff designated as
respected. responsible for them, and shall accept
them only if they do not conflict with the
9. journalists' declaration of their duties.
They do not accept benefits or
promises that could restrict their
professional independence and the
expression of their personal opinions.
Declaration of rights
of the journalists

In order for journalists to fulfill the duties they have assumed, they must be able to
claim at least the following rights:

a. d.
They have free access to all sources of They have the right to transparency
information and the freedom to regarding the ownership of their
investigate all facts of public interest employer. As a member of an editorial
without hindrance; the secrecy of public board, they must be informed and
or private matters can only be asserted consulted in good time before any
against journalists in exceptional cases important decision is taken which has
and only with a clear explanation of the an influence on the course of the
reasons. company. In particular, the members of
the editorial board must be consulted
b. before a final decision is taken on
They must not be induced to do or say measures that result in a fundamental
anything professionally that is contrary change in the composition of the
to professional principles or their editorial board or its organization.
conscience. They must not suffer any
disadvantages as a result of this e.
attitude. They are entitled to appropriate vocational
training and continuing education.
c.
They shall be entitled to reject any f.
instruction or invitation which is contrary They are entitled to have their working
to the general line of their publication. conditions clearly regulated by a
This general line must be communicated collective agreement. The agreement
to them in writing prior to their must stipulate that they may not suffer
employment; its unilateral modification any personal disadvantages as a result
or revocation is unlawful and of their activities in the professional
constitutes a breach of contract. organizations.
 Swiss Press Council
Conseil suisse de la presse
Consiglio svizzero della stampa

g. This "Declaration" was adopted at the

They have the right to a personal con- sistent meeting of the Board of
employment contract, which must Trustees of the Swiss Press Council
guarantee their material and moral Foundation on December 21, 1999 and
security. Above all, their economic revised at the Board of Trustees
independence as journalists should be meeting on June 5, 2008.
ensured through appropriate
compensation for their work, which
takes into account their function, their
responsibility and their social position.