Ethical Journalism Network: the first line of defence in the name of truth and democracy

The Ethical Journalism Network is back! After a period of reflection on our future we have refreshed our leadership, moved our centre of operations from London to Brussels, and established a new legal framework.

Our mission in support of quality journalism is more important than ever. The challenges facing news media since we first launched 14 years ago have intensified.

In this digital age the malign use of artificial intelligence, pervasive online disinformation and an avalanche of unregulated, unreliable content threaten to overwhelm ethical journalism.

But some things have not changed.

Corporate and political centres of power continue to threaten news media and journalism. Our industry is at the mercy of technology giants and populist political movements who continue to put profit and propaganda before truth and public interest.

Even in countries where journalists believed truth and free speech were valued – the United States under the shadow of Donald Trump comes to mind – politicians undermine the very concepts of ethical journalism.

Journalists need urgent assistance to address this crisis. And the EJN, with your help, can still provide them with the support they need.

The EJN is a unique organisation that over the years has helped journalists around the world to build trusted journalism in some of the world’s most difficult places.

Our five core values of journalism and our five-point test for hate speech are essential training material internationally. They are benchmarks by which journalism is judged worldwide.

• In Africa, the Middle East, Turkey and the Western Balkanswe developed ground-breaking programmes to counter corruption and unscrupulous politics that have so weakened news media.
• Across Europe we strengthened media reporting of the migration crisis.
• We targeted trust issues in the ownership and management of mediaand helped make quality journalism and management a priority for public policy in more than 30 countries, including Bosnia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Indonesia, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Sudan, Rwanda, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine and the UK.

The EJN has done a lot. On our website you will find the materials, reports and evidence that shows how important is this work to everyone who cares about honesty and truth in public communications.

But much more needs to be done, and with your help we can carry this work forward. We have an ambitious plan of work. The five things we want to do:

1. To focus on addressing challenge of artificial intelligence in the news and how to ensure that is the gateway to better, more informed and more truthful news journalism through training and discussion on the practical application of online tools in the newsroom;
2. To provide a response and advice servicing helping journalists and editors deal with the ethical dilemmas they face in their daily activities;
3. To create viable partnerships with media support groups, including associations, unions and media employers to reach out to and support young people working in journalism and giving voice to those who can o provide an authentic and radical perspective on the future of news.
4. To strengthen links with journalism schools in the education and development of ethical skills in journalism;
5. To be a home for debate and discussion on current trends in journalism and looking at the role of politics, power and the news; media coverage of the social and cultural issues that polarise and divide communities;

Above all, we believe it is time to step up the fight to bring ethics back into the media mainstream.

Setting standards for honesty, fairness and truth-telling laced with style in newsrooms is our guiding principle. We shall challenge and confront those who sacrifice our values in favour of click bait, propaganda and hate speech.

We ask you to join us in this next exciting phase of the EJN’s work. Let’s talk. Together we can push back against the lies, deceit and propaganda that threatens the modern newsroom.

So subscribe today or renew your subscription and make a donation to help fund our work. Let us work together to strengthen the work of news media and to mobilise journalism as our first line of defence in the name of truth and democracy.

Aidan White, Founder