Country: Portugal
Journalists’ Code of Deontology
Portugal, Sindicato dos Jornalistas – Conselho Deontológico
Union of Journalists – Deontological Council
- Journalists have the duty to report facts with accuracy and interpret them honestly. Facts shall be checked by hearing the relevant parties. The distinction between news and opinion must be very clear in the eyes of the public.
- Journalists must fight censorship and sensationalism and consider both accusations without proof and plagiarism as serious professional misconduct.
- Journalists must fight both against restrictions in the access to information sources and attempts to limit the freedom of expression and the right to inform. Journalists are obliged to publicise any violations of those rights.
- Journalists must use fair means when obtaining information, pictures or documents, and forbid oneself of abusing anyone’s good faith. Identification as a journalist is the rule, other means being justified only on grounds of an unquestionable public interest and after verified the impossibility of obtaining relevant information by ordinary means.
- Journalists must accept the responsibility of his/her’s own professional performance, as well as promote the immediate correction of information proved false or inaccurate.
- Journalists must refuse acts/behaviours that violate his/her conscience.
- Identification of one’s sources is an essential criterion for a journalist. He/she must not reveal, not even in court, his/her confidential information sources, nor disrespect commitments previously assumed, except when he/she has been used to spread false information. Opinions shall always be named.
- Journalists must respect the presumption of innocence until a judicial process is over. Journalists must not identify victims of sexual crimes, directly or indirectly. Journalists must not identify minors, directly or indirectly, either as sources, as witnesses of news events, as victims or as perpetrators of acts qualified by law as crime. Journalists must forbid him/herself from humiliating people or disturbing one’s pain.
- Journalists must reject the discriminatory treatment of people by parentage, colour, ethnicity, language, place of origin, religion, political or ideological convictions, education, economic status, social status, age, sex, gender or sexual orientation.
- Journalists must respect citizens’ private lives, except when the public interest is questioned or the behaviour of the person at stake is clearly contradictory to the values and principles that he/she publicly claims. Before gathering statements or pictures/video, journalists obliges him/herself to take into account the conditions of serenity, freedom, dignity and responsibility of those involved.
- Journalists must refuse roles, tasks and benefits that could jeopardise his/her independency and professional integrity. Journalists must not use his/her professional status in order to report issues in which he/she has personal interest.
Approved in the 4thCongress of Journalists on January 15th, 2017 and confirmed in a referendum held on October 26th, 27thand 28th, 2017
Last updated on 07.12.2018. Source: Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas
UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA