The key elements of the code of practice are: Newspapers and periodicals shall strive at all times for truth and accuracy.
When a significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distorted report or picture has been published, it shall be corrected promptly and with due prominence.
When appropriate, a retraction, apology, clarification, explanation or response shall be published promptly and with due prominence.
Comment, conjecture, rumour and unconfirmed reports shall not be reported as if they were fact, but newspapers and periodicals are entitled to advocate strongly their own views on topics. Newspapers and periodicals shall strive at all times for fairness and honesty in the procuring and publishing of news and information.
Publications shall not obtain information, photographs or other material through misrepresentation or subterfuge, unless justified by the public interest.
Journalists and photographers must not obtain, or seek to obtain, information and photographs through harassment, unless their actions are justified in the public interest.
Newspapers and periodicals shall not knowingly publish matter based on malicious misrepresentation or unfounded accusations. Publications must take reasonable care in checking facts before publication.
Readers are entitled to have news and comment presented with respect for the privacy and sensibilities of individuals.
Public persons are entitled to privacy. However, where a person holds public office, deals with public affairs, follows a public career, or has sought or obtained publicity for his activities, publication of relevant details of his private life and circumstances may be justifiable where the information revealed relates to the validity of the person's conduct, the credibility of his public statements, the value of his publicly expressed views or is otherwise in the public interest.
The Press Council: who's who
The Press Ombudsman is Prof John Horgan, a former journalist who was a member of Seanad and Dáil before being appointed professor of journalism at Dublin City University in 1999. He is the author of a number of books on Irish media and a number of political biographies. The chairman is Prof Thomas Mitchell, a former provost of Trinity College Dublin.
The other members are:
Seamus Boland, chief executive of Irish Rural
Link;
Mary Kotsonouris, a solicitor and a former
District Court judge;
John M Horgan, former chairman of the Labour
Court;
Prof Maeve McDonagh, a solicitor and associate
professor of Law in UCC;
Dr Eleanor O'Higgins, of the faculty of the School
of Business at UCD, who is a director of Transparency International
Ireland;
Peter O'Mahony, who is currently on a sabbatical
from his position as chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council;
Eoin McVey, a managing editor of
The Irish Times;
Rosemary Delaney, director of WMB Publishing;
Michael Denieffe, group managing editor of
Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd;
Martin Fitzpatrick, treasurer of the Irish
Executive Council of the National Union of Journalists;
Michael McNiffe, editor of the
Irish Sunand the
Sunin the North;
Frank Mulrennan, group business development
director, Celtic Media Group, and director of operations, Westmeath
Examiner Group.