A decalogue addressed to journalists, authored by Archbishop Calinic of Suceva and Rădăuți, exhorts them to embrace an apostolate of communication while upholding principles of professional deontology.
The ten rules were compiled in the context of the 174th anniversary of the birth of Romania’s national poet and journalist, Mihai Eminescu.
A decalogue for journalists
- Like the angels, the messengers of God, become an apostle of communication so that His grace may complete your work.
- Promote the truth and do not misinform out of naivety, insufficient knowledge or malicious intent, being aware that you will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment for any vain word.
- Express yourself critically but reasonably, elegantly and dispassionately so that your actions serve a constructive purpose and aid in forming relevant viewpoints.
- Vehemently reject any manifestation of discrimination, ensuring that freedom of opinion and expression are not suppressed.
- Always be impartial, honest and loyal to the principles of journalism, adhering rigorously to the deontological standards of information dissemination.
- Do not distort information. Do not express yourself biasedly, and refrain from offending others’ dignity. Instead, conduct yourself professionally and sincerely.
- Establish a positive reputation through your ethical and professional conduct; avoid using abuse, defamation, manipulation, sensationalism, plagiarism, or any other unethical methods to advance your career.
- Reject any interference that may compromise your journalistic conduct or activity, thereby jeopardising your career.
- Refrain from falling into the temptation of releasing unverified information into the public space, but always carefully research the accuracy and relevance of everything you make known to the public.
- Infuse a portion of your being into your writing so that it may perpetually be pleasant and seasoned with salt. Never forget that just as the Word of God is God Himself, so too the word of man is man himself.
Photography courtesy of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți
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