Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Approved by the Parliament of the Slovak Syndicate of Journalists on 19 October 1990.

"Everybody has a right to freedom of conviction and expression; this right does not allow that anybody suffers for his / her conviction and includes that right to seek, receive and disseminate information and ideas by any means regardless of borders." (General Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19, December 10, 1948)

The complex of the rights and duties of the journalists results from the above mentioned right of the public to know the facts and opinions. The responsibility of the journalist to the public is superior to all other responsibilities, especially to those concerning their employers and the government powers.

"Accomplishing these rights and freedoms everybody is only submitted to such limitations that are given by the Law exclusively for the purpose of securing the acknowledgement and preservation of right and freedoms of other people, and the fulfillment of the righteous demands of morals, public order and general welfare in the democratic society" (General Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19, Paragraph 2)

In accordance with these regulations (the articles of the General Declaration of Human Rights and in accordance with the spirit and the wording of the International Pact of Civic and Political Rights) the journalists in Slovakia lay down the following professionally obligatory ethical limits:

I. THE JOURNALIST AND THE PUBLIC

The journalist will do everything which is necessary to give the public veracious, precise, verified, complete and professional information. The veracity of information necessitates that the facts as its base are given as objectively as possible, in their real context, without any deformation or withholding the circumstances, with appropriate use of journalist's creative abilities. If some facts cannot be verified it is necessary to mention this. The journalist can freely express personal or group opinions within the limits of the pluralistic contest of ideas unless he does not violate the civil rights of another person or group of persons and unless he does not menace the societal morals. At the same time, he himself has to respect the request for a free exchange of opinions and for a free flow of information. He always respects the measures of good taste and the suitability of his means of expression. He has a right and a moral duty to refuse the publication of such an information which he finds untrue, half-true (deformed), speculative, incomplete or commercially directed ( the so called hidden advertisement).

If the journalist publishes untrue, half-true (deformed), speculative or incomplete information, he must rectify it including the publication of correction or response. The correction must be published in approximately identical graphical arrangement, the best way in the same place as the information being corrected. The rejoinder of the author of the original information should not be supplemented by the response so that one party does not have permanent advantage.

Accusations without proofs, misusing of trust, profession or media for a personal or group benefit, falsification of documents, deformation of facts, any lie and purposeful withholding of the knowledge of the violation of Law and societal morals are regarded by the journalist as the greatest professional guilt.

II. THE JOURNALIST AND THE OBJECT OF HIS INTERESTS

The journalist takes over the responsibility for everything published by him. Without the consent of the respective person he is not allowed to defame this person, to interfere with his private life unless this person itself does not act against the Law or cause public offense. The journalist will not publish an interview if the person does not wish so, the journalist consents to give the statement person's authorship if the person wishes so.

For the sake of objectivity, the journalist tries in the course of preparation of his work or its realization to let speak all the persons concerned.

III. THE JOURNALIST AND THE INFORMATION SOURCE

The journalist has an undeniable right of free access to all information sources.

The journalist is obliged to let his informant know about his intentions as an author immediately.

When collecting information he does not use pressure.

He is not allowed to misuse either the events and statements the witness of which he was, neither the documents reproduced by him.

The journalist is obliged to keep his information sources secret by the time he is exempted from this duty by the informant or by the Court.

IV. THE JOURNALIST AND EDITORIAL STAFF OR PUBLISHER

The journalist has a right to such a contract that secures his material needs and his professional honor.

He has a right to refuse any pressure on him to act against his conviction. He only accepts orders from his superiors according to his contract.

The journalist has a right to be protected by his direct superior and publisher by all legal and accessible means, including the protection of his right to use a pseudonym. The journalist must not enforce private and subjective interests for his personal gain, he does not sign his own name under the creations which are commercial or paid advertisements.

The editorial staff is entitled to be consulted by the editorial or publisher's board on every decisions important for the work of the mentioned staff.

V. THE JOURNALIST AND HIS COLLEAGUES

The journalist will not publish somebody else's work under his own name or abbreviation.

He may not quote from any publication without citing the source.

He will not offer his work for publication simultaneously to more editors.

Without the author's consent he does not intervene in the contents of the work.

He does not decrease the authority and abilities of his colleagues, during collective work he respects their needs and opinions.

VI. THE JOURNALIST AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST

The journalist holds in due respect the Constitutional State Order, its democratic institutions, the valid Law and generally accepted moral principles of the society.

The journalist must not promote aggressive wars, violence and aggressiveness as the means of international conflicts solution, political, civic, racial, national, religious and other sorts of intolerance. The journalists shows due respect to other states, nations, to their democratic traditions and institutions, to their culture and morals.