The Association and Club of Foreign Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA and AFPC-USA Club) are aware of their responsibility in the ethical shaping of journalism and hereby state that:
Thomas Barat
Director of Ethics and Compliance for AFPC-USA and AFPC-USA Club
an ethical journalist acts with integrity,
ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is both accurate and fair,
ethical journalists openly publish their intellectual product for information or opinion-forming purposes, through a media genre and/or channel, or through a contribution to a media genre and/or channel as a result of their profession,
it is the responsibility of journalists and society to protect freedom of speech.
It follows from the above that:
deceiving media consumers (i.e., print or online readers, tv/film/video viewers, or radio/podcast listeners) is considered an unethical activity,
the journalist shall not be obliged to perform marketing communications such as advertising, sponsorship, or patronage organizing, nor shall the journalist be obligated to supply financial or material support services,
the relationship between media consumers and marketers rests on the understanding that news and marketing communications, including advertising, are strictly separated,
journalists their neutrality and objectivity by avoiding any special interest and bias perspective,
Everyone wishing to become a member of the AFPC-USA Club will declare that they will agree with the above statement when they join the organization.