The card of the Corriere della Sera Journalists
The document, voted unanimously by the journalists and journalists of the Corriere, to renew the trusted pact with readers
Dear readers and dear readers,
In view of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the « Corriere della Sera », the journalists and journalists of the newspaper undertake to renew with this card the trusted pact with you who are the essential point of reference for our work. A relationship that we have built over time assuming very specific responsibilities. Responsibility that made the history of the first newspaper in the country which is, first of all, your newspaper.
We believe that today it is necessary to update these commitments taking into account the changes that occurred in recent years. The means to communicate have multiplied: the paper have been joined by increasing journalism online, podcasts, newsletters, webinars, events.
At the same time, advertising and marketing have also experienced new roads. The journalists of the « Corriere della Sera » are open to any change and evolution as long as the lighthouse is always authoritative and transparent information.
The intent of this document, necessary and urgent, is to serve as an ethical compass. A fixed point to reiterate the right of citizens to complete information always distinct from the advertising message. We owe it to you individual readers, one by one. But we must also to ourselves that first we must ask ourselves about the quality of our information and the proposed contents.
This card wants to be a contribution to the construction of the future of our newspaper. The foundations of this future can only sink into an ethically correct relationship with readers/spectators/listeners.
The journalists of the Corriere della Sera:
1) They are fully recognized as they are ordered by article 44 of the national work contract and will supervise him on his respect: « In order to protect the public right to receive correct information, distinct and distinguishable from the advertising message, and do not read the interests of the individuals, advertising messages must be clearly identifiable as such therefore distinct, also through a specific indication from the journalistic texts ».
2) take note of the affirmation of forms of sponsored information, conveyed through articles, podcasts, events, webinars. Journalists will not be available to affix their signature on these projects and will act as a guarantee in front of the reader with respect to the quality and independence of the information.
3) do not allow to condition their activity from the pressure from exponents of corporate marketing and advertising (which in any way can relate directly to the editors): from the request to view the articles before publication to the imposed interviews.
4) The direct collaborations with sponsors or investors are committed to shocking, eliminating any possibility of conflict of interest.
5) In compliance with professional ethics, they refrain from posting on social networks – also on personal profiles – comments or images attributable to products or companies connected and connected to sponsorships.
6) To protect the profession and internal skills claim the editorial management of the journalistic contents published in the newspaper as well as the supervision of the social accounts to which the image of the head is linked. Articles, web launches via social media, podcasts and video articles cannot in any measure be designed, made and modified by professional figures other than the journalistic ones.
7) They supervise that advertising links are not included inside the online articles that refer to products purchase portals. If instead of branded content, the link can exist but the sponsorship must be highlighted at the top of the content, according to the aforementioned logic of maximum transparency.
8) undertake not to accept gifts explicitly or indirectly linked to the publication of content on the channels of the head.
9) As the ultimate tool for the protection of their professional and deontological correctness, the possibility of collecting the signature on articles for which the criteria listed here are evaluated as the ultimate tool. In addition to immediately reporting the editorial committee or trustee for any attempt at the pressure from anyone who can question the principles listed here.
10) They commit, through trade union bodies, to report to the order of journalists all the deontological violations possibly found in the newspaper and on the platforms attributable to Corriere della Sera.
With this card we intend to forcefully reiterate a simple concept: the information must be information, advertising must be advertising.
Our role as journalists from the « Corriere della Sera » is and remains the story of what happens in the world through different points of view but always with intellectual honesty. This attitude of absolute respect for the ethical rules and transparency against readers will have to concern the offer of the « Corriere della Sera » in all its multiple forms (paper, web, video, podcasts, newsletters), including the organization of events.
(This document was voted unanimously by the journalists and journalists of Corriere della Sera).
