@misc{01J7GRBZ04ZSPHW958Q72NH5P7,
  abstract     = {{Journalism ethics is a central pillar of journalism as a profession that helps to set journalists apart from other groups of communicators such as press officers and amateur journalists. In light of Article 19 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, journalists have a duty to defend and support the public’s right to have access to information and ideas. This duty comes with great responsibility, which is why the adherence to a code of conduct is so central to journalism. 

The existence of a Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists (International Federation of Journalists, 2019) and organisations such as the Alliance of European Press Councils (AIPCE) demonstrate the fact there is a universal understanding about the basic ethical rules or core journalistic values, such as the obligation to report facts truthfully and independently from any personal or private interest, and to respect the privacy and dignity of persons names or represented in the news. 

Nonetheless, previous research in the Media Councils in the Digital Age project shows that there are many variations in the practical implementation of these basic values. These differences have been observed when comparing local codes of ethics but more clearly also in the organization and practices of local media councils. These media councils are self-regulatory organizations who handle complaints from the public about potential breaches of codes of conduct by journalists. For example, Anna Vidal (2024) recently mapped whether and how 37 European media councils facilitate mediation between complainants and media or journalists in order to try to reach a consensus solution for a reported ethical problem. Likewise, in some media councils, complainants need to be personally involved in a news story in order for their complaint to be admissible, whereas other media councils do not have this requirement. This has direct implications with regards to the number of complaints a media council will receive. 

On top of these differences, it is important to take into account that strictness on seemingly universal basic values may vary substantially between countries depending on general societal norms and values. For example, while some countries prioritize respect for privacy and have robust legal frameworks to protect individuals' rights, others may have more permissive attitudes or weaker legal protections. This may also be reflected in media councils’ complaints decisions. Yet, we need more evidence about the range of variations in the types of complaints and the application of ethical principles across countries and regions. 

Therefore, the aim of this study is to map and compare complaints decisions by nine media councils in EU Member States and Candidate Countries. The findings are based on a quantitative content analysis of 333 complaints decisions in 2022. For each decision, we coded a range of variables including which ethical principle(s) were under scrutiny, whether the complaint was (partly) upheld or not, and which actors were involved. Special attention will be paid to a comparison of complaints about offline and online news, in order to investigate how European media councils deal with the challenges of the digital age.}},
  author       = {{Van Leuven, Sarah}},
  keywords     = {{ethics,journalism,media council,press complaints}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{35}},
  publisher    = {{Ghent University}},
  title        = {{Media councils in the digital age : an overview of 9 European media councils’ complaints decisions}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}