The National Congress of Journalists approves a Code of Ethics
During the 25th, 26th and 27th of October, the National Congress of Journalists took place in the hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, under the theme "Journalism: a responsible profession."
In an event jointly organized by the State Secretariat for Media, by the Journalists Association and by the Media Program (funded by the European Union and implemented by the Portuguese Cooperation), Dili received speakers from Portugal, Indonesia and Australia. The aim of the congress was to bring together professional journalists to discuss the challenges, values and ethics inherent to the profession, as well as to adopt a Code of Ethics and a draft for the Press Council Statute.
On October 25th, the opening session was presented by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and by the Portuguese Ambassador, Manuel Gonçalves de Jesus.
Xanana Gusmão spoke about freedom of expression and freedom of the press, about the importance and responsibility of the profession, highlighting the need for its regulation within the rule of law, in order to contribute to building a developed society as well as a democracy. The Prime Minister recalled that journalists should seek the truth, and assure their sources, without questioning the right to privacy, integrity and honour of others.
These were also the topics addressed by the Portuguese Ambassador, who was confident that the main challenge of the congress, to "find the best ways to organize professional journalism, according to the cultural, political, social and economical specificities of Timor-Leste ", would be achieved.
The speakers, on the first day, spoke primarily about ethics, journalism self-regulating mechanisms and the press council, in a debate which became the basis for the discussion about the Code of Ethics, which was discussed on the second day of the congress and approved the following day, when, the issue of the press council was also discussed.
The Code of Ethics, which was adopted by the majority of those present, is the result of a joint effort between the Journalists Associations (AJTL, SJTL and TLPC) and other NGOs in this area, (ARKTL, TILPA and CJITL), and was based on moral and sociological foundations, having considered the universal standards of journalism, and is valid, as a self-regulating basis for professional journalists in Timor-Leste.
On October 27th, the President of the Republic, Taur Matan Ruak, closed the Congress, by recalling the responsibility for journalists to fulfil the profession seriously, their duty to keep citizens informed and to respect the freedom of expression, which is a principle contemplated in the Constitution of Timor-Leste. Satisfied that a Code of Ethics was approved, Taur Matan Ruak, appealed that to the journalism professionals, to implement it successfully.
