Six Global Organizations Join Forces Against Bribery for Media Coverage

http://releases.usnewswire.com/printing.asp?id=139-08132004

Six Global Organizations Join Forces Against Bribery for Media Coverage

8/13/2004 3:46:00 PM

LONDON, Aug. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Six global organizations have announced their support for a set of principles designed to foster greater transparency in the dealings between public relations professionals and the media, and to end bribery for media coverage throughout the world. The organizations are the International Press Institute, the International Federation of Journalists, Transparency International, the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management, the Institute for Public Relations, and the International Public Relations Association.

The principles, embodied in the Charter on Media Transparency developed by the International Public Relations Association, are that:

-- News material should appear as a result of the news judgment of journalists and editors, and not as a result of any payment in cash or in kind, or any other inducements.

-- Material involving payment should be clearly identified as advertising, sponsorship or promotion.

-- No journalist or media representative should ever suggest that news coverage will appear for any reason other than its merit.

-- When samples or loans of products or services are necessary for a journalist to render an objective opinion, the length of time should be agreed in advance and loaned products should be returned afterward.

-- The media should institute written policies regarding the receipt of gifts or discounted products and services, and journalists should be required to sign the policy.

<snip>

The Institute for Public Relations, located at the University of Florida, is dedicated to improving the professional practice of public relations through research, education, measurement and evaluation. The Institute's study of bribery for news coverage can be accessed at:
http://www.instituteforpr.com/international.phtml?article_id=bribery_index

http://www.usnewswire.com/

....

Well I don't mean DU'ers - we have, for long, categorized that medium as gutter-news and lies peddler. I do mean in the eyes of the rest of the world!