International Media Forum in Jeddah issues charter for responsible journalism and ethics

Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — In a landmark event held in Jeddah on Monday, the International Media Forum on “The Role of Media in Inciting Hatred and Violence: Risks of Misinformation and Bias” issued the Jeddah Charter for Media Responsibility.

This comprehensive charter underscores the paramount importance of upholding human dignity, embracing shared moral principles, and safeguarding human rights across religious, national, ethnic, and identity spectrums.

The charter champions the inherent right of every individual to freely choose their legitimate orientations, emphasizing the necessity to respect and protect this right. It calls for a commitment to refrain from disseminating content that infringes upon the rights of others or violates their privacy.

Emphasizing the battle against negative phenomena and incorrect practices, the charter strives to counteract anything that undermines societies or contradicts universal human values.

Notably, it condemns Islamophobia and any form of hateful ideologies, viewing such attitudes as manifestations of reprehensible racism.

The charter urges responsible reporting, emphasizing the importance of freedom and independence in media practices. It forbids the exploitation of power or authority for personal gain and discourages deceptive methods to obtain news or verify its authenticity.

Among the forum’s recommendations is the call for a unified international law for media ethics, regulations for media practices, and laws to deter hatred, including criminalizing media institutions and individuals involved in hate crimes.

The forum introduced the Islamic News Agency Award for Media Professionalism and emphasized the need for effective national and international observatories to counter the dangers of hatred.

Forum participants, including prominent figures like Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa and General Supervisor of Official Media in the State of Palestine Minister Ahmed Assaf, called on global media professionals to adopt the Jeddah Charter for Media Responsibility as a reference for understanding media ethics and promoting responsible practices.

The forum, attended by ministers, ambassadors, religious leaders, intellectuals, and human rights advocates, concluded with a unified commitment to media acting responsibly and staying focused on its noble mission.

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