Press rules and press cards

The official Danish press card is visible proof of membership of the Danish Union of Journalists. All members of the Danish Union of Journalists are therefore entitled to a press card, which in Denmark is highly respected by organisations and authorities. In Denmark, a press card issued by the Danish Union of Journalists grants entry beyond police cordons so the press can report from the centre of events. The Danish Union of Journalists is therefore in  continuous dialogue with the Danish police to uphold respect for the press card among authorities and card holders.

Self-regulation is a key word for Danish media workers. Press ethics is part of the curriculum in  all journalism degree programmes and the debate about ethics in  journalism is often high on the agenda among Danish journalists. Ethically responsible journalism is based on the Danish “Advisory rules of sound press ethics ”, a further development of rules adopted by editors in 1960. Two new clauses were added to the rules in connection with the introduction of the Media Responsibility Act in 1991. The first clause states that to request a journalist to carry out work in violation of the  rules of sound press ethics constitutes a breach of those rules. The clause states that a journalist cannot be requested to  undertake assignments that conflict with the individual’s conscience or conviction. The second clause states that it is also a breach of press ethics to prevent justified publication of information of material importance to the general public and to allow a third party to influence mass media content if this raises doubts about the freedom and independence of the mass media. Following the adoption of these clauses and the provision for equal representation of editors and journalists on press councils, the Danish Union of Journalists could also approve the rules on behalf of its members.

It happens occasionally, in Denmark as well as in other countries, that media organisations or individual journalists are accused of contravening the rules for good press ethics. The parties in question can be called upon to appear before the Danish Press Council, which is the media’s internal governing body outside the Danish courts. The Press Council, established in its current form in 1991, rules on cases raised by eligible parties. It is composed of representatives from the media, the courts and the general public. If a media company is criticised by the Press Council, the company in question must publish the decision of the Press Council, if requested to do so. The Danish Union of Journalists nominates the industry’s representative to the Press Council.

The Danish Media Responsibility Act determines who can be sued for law infringements or acts resulting in claims for damages, committed by the publication of material in a mass medium covered by the Media Responsibility Act. The general rule is that liability attaches to the person under whose name and with whose consent the material was written, photographed or expressed. The editor-in-chief is responsible for anonymous material and can be held jointly liable in accordance with specific rules. Liability only attaches to the publisher if neither the individual author nor the editor-in-chief can be held liable. The wish of the media and the majority in the Danish parliament (Folketinget) was (and is) that publishers should not be given a platform for interfering in editorial matters. Similarly, the individual journalist should assume responsibility, which would promote independent journalism.