Italian legislation does not explicitly require self-regulation systems, but many newsrooms have adopted an internal code of ethics. For example, the daily newspaper la Repubblica has adopted a code of ethics that journalists are called to respect in order to “carry out their profession correctly and in full transparency”. In this document, the values of accuracy, completeness, honesty, independence, impartiality, transparency, ethical use of social media, responsibility, respect, quality, and verification are mentioned as the foundation of the readers’ pact.
In the case of media companies not only dedicated to news, such as RAI, Mediaset, and La7, reference is made to the company’s codes of ethics, which normally refer to the obligation to guarantee the rigorous respect of professional ethics by journalists. The production of a code of ethics by media companies is regulated by legislative decree 231/2001, which regulates the administrative liability of legal persons, companies, and associations (Republic of Italy, 2001).
Systemic proposals have been made, in particular by trade unions. For example, the introduction of a charter of values was discussed in the 2019 Stati Generali dell’Editoria[General States of Publishing]. This charter aims to protect the autonomy of the editorial staff and the transparency of the relationship with readers. In order to do this, it commits the editor, each individual journalist, and the owners to strict compliance with the codes of ethics for the protection of the reader established by the Order of Journalists, such as the Charter of the Journalist’s Duties (1993) and the Charter of Treviso for the protection of minors (1990).
