As champions of ethical journalism, unions of journalists need to review their own performance. Most have a code of conduct, often prepared by the union’s founders, but it rarely figures in discussion at union meetings where ‘bread and butter’ issues of jobs and wages dominate the agenda. Many unions are calling for more respect for professionalism and promoting the virtues of quality journalism. What is at stake is not just the right to work, but the future of journalism itself.

Unions are reviewing their codes and updating them to take account of the changing media environment. Others are working to put ethical journalism on the national and international agenda for example through the European Federation of Journalists, Stand up For Journalism campaign marked on 5 November each year. These campaigns oppose cutbacks which are seriously threatening quality and damaging the profession.
Codes should be binding on all journalists and used to raise standards, not as disciplinary tools. Journalists need to be able to adhere to the Code rather than being compelled to “obey orders”. There is a need for a conscience clause, upholdable in employment law, to allow a journalist to refuse to originate or work on material that breaks their Code or in a manner that the Code would deem unethical. In their own work unions also strive to make sure their own policies and practices are up to scratch and at least match the standards they demand of others.

Questions:
 Has the union adopted an ethical code? Does it promote it actively amongst its members?
 Does the union highlight ethical issues including the right to act according to conscience in bargaining over working contracts and collective agreements?
 What more can unions do to secure the independence of journalism from political or special cultural interests?
 Has the union organised discussion with media owners at national level on joint actions to defend ethical and quality journalism?
 Has the union made efforts to introduce International Framework Agreements that cover these matters in companies that operate in more than one country?
 Does the union campaign for greater recognition of the role of journalism and greater awareness of the need to defend quality in media through, for example, the promotion of prizes and public events to celebrate excellence in journalism?
 Does the union support public discussion on the work of journalists and, for instance, media coverage of issues related to tolerance, religion, security policy, rights of minorities and reporting on vulnerable groups?
 Has the union carried out an internal review of its structure, recruitment polices, and general activities to ensure that they cover all appropriate groups working in journalism and also meet high standards of transparency and independence?

Things to do:

The last point says it all. There should be a review, thorough and inclusive, to examine how the union is working and what it is doing to defend the professional status of its members and to promote journalism and ethics. The IFJ and its regional organisations have an abundance of information on the experience elsewhere; the point is to get started on this work at home.