What is the Latvian Media Ethics Council?

The association "Latvian Media Ethics Council" was founded in 2018 at the initiative of several media industry associations and media outlets. Currently, the association has more than 100 members. The association examines complaints regarding possible non-compliance of media work with ethical principles. It seeks to resolve disputes by providing its assessment or opinion on the situation, as well as educate the media and the public by explaining the code of ethics, media rights and obligations, and providing recommendations.

The aim of the association is to promote the development of ethical media practice and facilitate media self-regulation in Latvia; protect freedom of expression and the public's right to a safe and reliable media environment.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Media Ethics council`s activities are based on a comprehensive media ethics code that protects media values such as freedom of expression, diversity of information and views, editorial independence, media credibility, autonomy, journalist rights, integrity (objectivity), human rights, in particular the rights of children and minors, equality and the prohibition of discrimination, audience education, media and audiences mutual trust.

Learn more about the Code of Ethics designed by the Latvian Media ethics council by clicking here.

SELF-REGULATION OF THE MEDIA

Self-regulation means that the media itself sets the conditions, rather than the laws, for professional behaviour and monitors their compliance. Promoting the development of self-regulatory practices in the media environment is one of the main objectives of the activities of the Media ethics council.

You can get more information about self-regulation practices by clicking here.