1. The Press
Council (PC) is a self-regulatory body of the press, aimed at
solving complaints on
materials published in media.
2. In solving press
conflicts, the PC shall regard the interests of the press to have free
access to information, on the one hand, and the justified interests of
the public in relations with the press, on the other hand. The
authority of the PC lies in the readiness of the press to voluntarily
adhere to good journalistic practices.
3. Every private
individual or legal entity can turn to the PC with a complaint on the
materials published about him/her/it in the press (except
advertising).
4. As a rule, the PC
shall convene once a month to process complaints.
5. PC membership.
5.1. The Estonian
Newspaper Association (ENA) shall invite representatives from both the
press and outside it to the PC. The ENA shall appoint nine members of
the PC for two years (5 representatives from the press and 4
representatives outside the press). The gradual rotation of the first
membership of the PC will begin after the first year of activity.
5.2. The work of the
PC is led by the chairman who shall conduct meetings and sign
decisions.
5.3. The everyday
work of the PC is carried out by the executive secretary who shall
prepare PC meetings. The executive secretary shall also mediate
between the complainant and the publication during the preliminary
procedure in order to negotiate a settlement between the parties if
possible. The executive secretary of the PC shall be hired by the ENA.
6. The PC members are
free in their adjudications while solving a complaint and shall
proceed from good journalistic practices, including the code of ethics
of the Estonian press. In their decision-making process the PC members
are independent of the ENA which convened the PC. The PC members do
not represent their organization or employer, but rather themselves.
6.1. The work of the
PC is regulated by the Rules of Procedure.
6.2. An adjudication
is passed when supported by more than half of the members attending
the meeting.
6.3. The quorum of
the PC is five members.
7. The PC is financed
by the member publications of the ENA and other organizations or media
channels that support the self-regulation of the press.
8. The PC shall
handle complaints which
(a) have been lodged in writing, accompanied by a
copy of the article concerned and explanatory documents, if necessary
(b) concern materials published less than three
months ago.
9. The PC shall not
handle complaints if
(a) a court procedure is under way in the matter
(b) the complainant cannot be identified
(c) the complaint does not concern the breach of
good journalistic practices.
10. The PC
adjudications can upheld the complaint (if the PC finds that good
journalistic practices have been breached) or dismiss it (if no breach
of good journalistic practices is established).
11. The
editions have an obligation to print the condemning
adjudications of the PC. All PC adjudications shall be posted on the
PC home page on the ENA website.
Approved by the ENA Board on August 22, 2002 |