First established in 1944 by the then-Australian Journalists' Association, MEAA's Journalist Code of Ethics is the oldest in the world. All members of MEAA agree to be bound by the Code when they join the union.

While various codes may differ in the detail of their content and come from different cultural traditions, most share common elements including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy and fact-based communications, independence, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, respect for others and public accountability, as ...

A newspaper places an ad on the page opposite an article about foreign policy. A reporter writes a story about his wife's company without revealing their relationship.

Explain ethical choices and processes to audiences. Encourage a civil dialogue with the public about journalistic practices, coverage and news content. Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness. Acknowledge mistakes and correct them promptly and prominently.