IMPRESS, a member of the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe (AIPCE), has joined a campaign led by the AIPCE and press councils from across Europe which aims at raising awareness of the role of press councils, and their work with journalists and the public “to contribute to better information and accountable journalism in which the public can have confidence”.

IMPRESS says that, at a time when pieces of information coming from all sources are “jostling around without us always knowing whether we can rely on it or not”, and at a time when “distrust of journalists has become the rule”, press councils are “a major tool at the service of the public and journalists in the defence of free, independent and reliable information”. According to IMPRESS, press councils ensure that the journalistic practice standards are respected. These standards can be summarised in four major subject headings: checked information; independence; loyalty; and respect of the rights of individuals, it says.

IMPRESS says that the aim of press councils is “to work hand in hand with the public and journalists to improve journalistic practices and methods, to contribute to better information and accountable journalism in which the public can have confidence. Such a confidence is necessary for the exercise of citizens freedoms and therefore for democracy”.

The promotional campaign is part of the pilot project “Media Councils in the Digital Age”, led by a European consortium bringing together various European press councils, universities, and the European Federation of Journalists. To read IMPRESS’s press release in full, click here.