Adopted in March 1994 at the close of a seminar jointly organized by the PANOS Institute and the Union of Tchadian Journalists.
Preamble
Communication is one of the essential needs of human beings. The press is a modern manifestation of that need. And it is perfectly justified that the exercise of freedom of opinion, expression and information recognized as an integral part of human rights and fundamental freedoms, is a vital factor in the strengthening of peace and international understanding."
Thus, journalism, which derives from the need to communicate, is not simply meant to provide a livelihood to whoever practises it [ ]. The discovery and publication of truth, which involves numerous moral values and requires important means, endows the journalist with indisputable nobleness but also exposes him/her to danger.
There are few countries in the world where citizens involved in information gathering have not been caught in the crossfire of criticism. When one is not highly competent and well-organised, such a climate can generate a feeling of insecurity and frustration, of being cornered and forced to fight back.
From the right of the public to know news and views and from the responsibility of the journalist towards that public, originate all journalistic duties. [ 2]
Those duties can only be effectively fulfilled in the day-to-day practise of journalism if working conditions are achieved that insure professional dignity. This is the reason for the following charter:
Declaration of Principles
Point 1. Peoples and individuals are entitled to receive an objective image of reality through the channel of precise and complete information; and also to express themselves through the various media of culture and communication.2
Point 2. Information is a social asset and not a mere product, which implies that a journalist shares the responsibility for the transmitted information. So he/she is responsible, not only towards those who rule the media, but also and mainly towards the mass public, not ignoring the diversity of social interests. The social responsibility of a journalist requires that in all circumstances he/she act in conformity with his/her conscience.
Point 3. A journalist cannot be forced to do a professional act or voice an opinion that are contrary to his/her convictions or to his/her conscience.
Point 4. The function of the journalist requires that the profession maintain a high level of integrity. Consequently, a journalist must:
- protect his/her sources of information;
- participate in making decisions within the media that employ him/her;
- respect intellectual property by refraining from plagiarism;
- avoid applying for a colleagues job or causing his/her firing by offering to work at a lower cost.
Point 5. Privileges or preferential treatment can compromise the integrity of journalists or of their employers. No valuable present should be accepted.
Point 6. While taking into account the major rules of the profession, a journalist must show professional and ethical qualities in collecting, processing and distributing information.2
Point 7. A journalist must facilitate the access of the public to information and its participation in media activity. Facts must be reported in an objective manner.
Point 8. Professional norms require that a journalist:
- respect the right of individuals to a private life and to human dignity;
- protect the rights and reputation of people by abstaining from libel, slander, insult and malicious innuendo.
Point 9. Journalistic professional norms prescribe full respect for the national community, for its institutions and for public morality.
Point 10. A journalist works within the contemporary world with the prospect that new international relations will be established, in general, and more particularly a new information order. It is the duty of a journalist to promote the democratisation of international relations in the field of information, especially by safeguarding and encouraging peaceful and friendly relations between peoples and States.
Point 11. A journalist defends the universal values of humanism. Hence, for ethical reasons, he/she must be aware of the principles and rules related to them that are contained in existing international conventions, declarations and resolutions.
Point 12. The UJT (Union of Journalists in Tchad) must be involved in the process of delivering professional ID cards. On a ethical level, Tchadian journalists acknowledge no authority but that of the UJT.
