Wednesday, June 22, 2011

UNESCO Launches Self-Regulatory Database

 Paris (UNESCO NEWS) UNESCO launches the new regional sections, dedicated to the Americans and the Caribbean, on its Professional Journalistic Standards and Code of Ethics website.
UNESCO experts to increase the awareness of self-regulation among media professionals and organisations in the region, while also encouraging the alignment of local practice with established international standards.
Originally created in 2010, this website was as an integral part of a project focusing on media accountability in Africa, Europe, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It provides in depth coverage of the self-regulation tools, press freedoms and media legislation that exist in these areas. Today’s launch will add a number of new country profiles from North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.


Last January, Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, commented on this ever-important issue in her opening remarks for the first International Symposium for Freedom of Expression at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris: “Voluntary self-regulation mechanisms need to be established or strengthened in many countries. We need to consider how to foster ethical and professional standards for the production of quality information in a context of rapid change.”

The site serves as a web-based tool on journalistic standards. Each country profile provides links to information on the state of media accountability, media legislation and regulation, existing regulatory and self-regulatory bodies, and code of ethics at the national and international level. The resources section includes publications and links to other pertinent information on the subject and to websites of organizations working in the field.

You can promote the Professional Journalistic Standards and Code on Ethics website through this link.

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