This document – along with the accompanying “Principles for Ethical Journalism” – is intended to help both seasoned professionals and new journalists to hold themselves accountable for professional work.

Journalists have the duty and privilege to seek and report the truth, encourage civic debate to build our communities, and serve the public interest. We vigorously defend freedom of expression and freedom of the press as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We return society’s trust by practising our craft responsibly and respecting our fellow-citizens’ rights.

Join us Thursday at 1 p.m. EST to talk about the CAJ Ethics Comittee’s latest report: What is Journalism? Report author Patrick Brethour will be answering your questions and engaging in discussion about what journalism is. The live chat will be moderated by J-Source ethics editor Romayne Smith Fullerton. Use the hashtag #WhatIsJournalism on Twitter to follow the conversation.

In the fall, the Canadian Association of Journalists asked its ethics advisory committee to weigh in on the question of journalists and journalism. With ever-changing sands that continue to shift in our industry, it’s a question that can change depending on which of those grains you’ve got in your scope. Ask someone what they think journalism is and prepare to receive a wide array of responses.

When the Canadian Association of Journalists’ ethics advisory committee reluctantly took up the task of defining journalism, it struggled, at first, to find a way forward. Then, writes Patrick Brethour, it stumbled on a solution: define what journalism is not

It used to be that everyone knew, or thought they knew, what journalism was and who journalists were. Those were the days when journalists served as the gatekeepers to public information—an idea that now seems archaic.

In recognition of the obligations of journalists to pursue accuracy and to be accountable for their work, the Canadian Association of Journalists’ Principles for Ethical Journalism states: “When we make a mistake, we correct it promptly and ungrudgingly, and in a manner that matches the seriousness of the error.” This is not a new idea, but digital publishing raises new challenges for defining best practices in corrections.

The Canadian Association of Journalists has revised its Principles for Ethical Journalism and the Ethics Guidelines, which are intended to help both seasoned professionals and new journalists hold themselves accountable for professional work.

This report is also available as a PDF file. Report of the Ethics Advisory Committee of The Canadian Association of Journalists February 4, 2011 PANEL MEMBERS | TIM CURRIE, CHAIR; BERT BRUSER, ELLEN VAN WAGENINGEN The Ethics Committee of the CAJ asked its Social Media Panel to propose guidelines for personal activity online. To study [...]

If a practising journalist seeks public office, what effect does, can or should that choice have on his or her ability to continue or return to his or her work?