View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 29, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

IFJ seeks ethics code for Euro journalists

By Press Gazette

IFJ’s White: wants to “establish base of standards”

The International Federation of Journalists is to try to get a basic standards code laid down for publications – both print and online – serving the European Parliament.

General secretary Aidan White is calling a meeting in the next two weeks of the International Press Institute and journalists belonging to media unions in Belgium, Germany and the UK, based in Brussels, together with providers of internet sites.

He wants their views on the dangers of sites which carry paid-for interviews and give copy approval but which claim to be editorially independent news providers.

The catalyst for this has been the launch last week of EUpolitix.com, which is carried on the Parliament intranet and the internet network in the European Commission and Council of Ministers.

White said: “We are a bit concerned that there is a mixing up of paid-for services for clients who are interested in lobbying activities within the institutions of the European Union and the bone fide journalistic activity of providing a news service for public consumption. It’s the eternal argument of separating advertising and editorial.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

White has spoken with executives of EUpolitix and visited the parent site, Epolitix, in the UK. EUpolitix chief executive Adam Nyman told the European Voice recently that the site offered copy approval to interviewees “not because we want to endear ourselves to anyone but because we want to be seen to be entirely neutral in our reporting.”

White commented: “It seems to us the introduction of wonderful capacities that new technology brings should not lead to any dilution of the importance of maintaining the independence of the editorial product.

“With the growth of new internet services and a general anxiety, even among politicians, about the power of lobbyists and the internet having access to decision-makers, it would be useful to have a meeting among journalists in Brussels about what the dangers are and what we can do to establish some base of standards.”

Christopher White, who produces a special Parliamentary focus free newspaper, EUReporter, is to hold a parallel meeting with the commercial side of the industry and Parliamentary institutions. Both sides will then get together to draw up a code of ethics.

White said: “There has to be a code of ethics that is enforceable by the withdrawal or refusal of accreditation.”

By Jean Morgan

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network