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There’s a new media ethics code in Montenegro.

Journalists from local news outlets Dan, Vijesti and Monitor helped create the guidelines as part of a working group backed by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, according to the OSCE’s press release.  The working group that created the guidelines began in late 2014 and adopted the guidelines in November 2015.

The ethics code was finally approved and adopted this month, Balkan news site Balkan Insight reported.  The code isn’t in English, but Balkan Insight summarizes “The new code sets new rules for online commenting, privacy issues, reporting on children, conflicts of interest, transparency, plagiarism and reporting from political rallies.”

In a press release, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic said the code would help with “media self-regulation” and “professional standards.”

“Media self-regulation is an important tool to safeguard editorial independence, promote professional standards of journalism, and ensure increased credibility as well as solidarity among the media community,” Mijatović said.

The guidelines are available here.

iMediaEthics has written to the OSCE representative and the three outlets involved in creating the guidelines for more information.

Hat Tip: Calvert Journal