Press Code also for social networks?

The German Press Council had to address the question of whether the ethical principles of the Press Code created by the German Press Council should also apply to the publication and dissemination of editorial contributions on social media platforms.

The Supporting Association of the German Press Council e.V. created Press Code establishes the standards with regard to reporting and journalistic conduct. Through these, the preservation of journalists' professional ethics is ensured.

The question raised as to whether these rules of conduct should also apply to the publication and dissemination of editorial contributions in social networks on the Internet was answered in the affirmative by the German Press Council. The Press Council announces this in a Presseerklärung vom 10.09.2014 .

It has long been common practice that editorial content is disseminated via social media platforms through linking or direct publication by the press in social networks. For journalistic media, this is nowadays merely an additional distribution channel for their publishing products. Therefore, the application of the ethical principles of the Press Code must also extend to the presentation of editorial activities in social networks.

Conclusion

Since the Press Council has been responsible for complaints regarding online publications by publishers since 2009, the decision is consistent. It cannot make a difference on which medium a journalistic publication is disseminated. The press must then also comply with the ethical principles created by the Press Council when publishing on social media.