JTI

The Media Outlet has been independently certified according to the JTI Programme and CWA 17493:2019.

Deloitte

Certified by

Deloitte

Date of certification

02/12/2024

Contact details

477 Collins Street
3000 Melbourne
Australia

Media Outlet Latvian Television Date of first publication 13/11/2024 Date of Latest Change 27/09/2024

9. Accountability for Journalism Principles

9.1. Editorial Guidelines

A Media Outlet shall produce a set of Editorial Guidelines or adhere to an external set of guidelines (for example the Model Editorial Guidelines provided as a reference document to this Standard), to which its journalistic operations comply. They should govern meaningful principles of journalistic content, dissemination and conduct. These guidelines, and the identity of the person or group of persons with ultimate responsibility for them within its organisation, shall be made available to the public in a readily accessible and understandable form. Best practice is to have these guidelines available publicly rather than on request.

Does your Media Outlet have a set of guidelines, or adhere to an external set of guidelines, for journalistic content, distribution and conduct to which its journalistic operations comply?

Yes

Are they made available to the public in a readily accessible form?

Yes

What is the URL?

https://ltv.lsm.lv/satura-veidosana/sabiedrisko-mediju-redakcionalas-vadlinijas

Is there a person or a group of persons responsible for these guidelines clearly identified?

Yes

Is that identification visible on the page with the guidelines?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

The persons responsible for guidelines are identified in document itself, along with their foreword explaing goals and framework for editorial guidelines.
The guidelines are shared among both public media in Latvia - LTV and Latvijas Radio, from LTV side responsible person is editor in chief Sigita Roķe.

9.2. Purpose of Guidelines

A Media Outlet shall ensure that these Editorial Guidelines set clear expectations of the behaviour it requires from its own staff, its contractors and from all other contributors to its editorial content. It should also set out the structure of responsibility within the organisation, making sure it is clear who is accountable for each stage of the process that leads to publication.

Do the guidelines referred to in the section on Editorial Guidelines set clear expectations for the behaviour for all the contributors, including editorial staff (journalists, editors) and all other contributors?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

The editorial guidelines apply to all content produced by public media, regardless of the platform or form of collaboration. These guidelines are binding for all public media staff, independent producers, authors, sole traders, and others involved in producing and publishing content for public media.

All employees involved in content production are familiarized with the editorial guidelines upon starting their work at a public service media outlet and commit to abiding by them.

If employees need clarification or have questions regarding the content of the guidelines, they should contact their line manager or the editor-in-chief of the public media. Controversial professional issues will be addressed during editorial discussions or by the LTV Editorial Board.

Violations of the Editorial Guidelines are reviewed by the Editorial Board of Latvian Television and the Ethics Commission of Latvian Radio.

Do the guidelines referred to in the section on Editorial Guidelines make clear the structure of editorial responsibility for each stage of the publication process within the organisation?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

The Public Media Editorial Guidelines define the main principles of editorial responsibility and how they can be applied in practice. See section 2.
The process is described in more detail in the Regulations of the LTV Professional Content Monitoring System (https://ltv.lsm.lv/storage/documents/files/b7d8b3ff08a93035a3c6d6854a40b8de.pdf)

9.3. Guidelines and Journalism Principles

A Media Outlet shall ensure that these Editorial Guidelines embody the core ethical principles of journalism. The Editorial Guidelines may impose specific requirements in addition to these core ethical principles; but any additional requirements shall not compromise these core ethical principles as described in the Preamble of this document.

Do your Editorial Guidelines include requirements for Accuracy (as prescribed in the Preamble) in your output?

Yes

What is the URL?

https://ltv.lsm.lv/satura-veidosana/sabiedrisko-mediju-redakcionalas-vadlinijas, part 1.4

Do they include requirements for Independence (as prescribed in the Preamble) of editorial decision making?

Yes

What is the URL?

https://ltv.lsm.lv/satura-veidosana/sabiedrisko-mediju-redakcionalas-vadlinijas, part 1.3

Do they include requirements of Fairness (as prescribed in the Preamble) in the practice of journalism?

Yes

What is the URL?

https://ltv.lsm.lv/satura-veidosana/sabiedrisko-mediju-redakcionalas-vadlinijas, part 1.3

Do they include requirements for Accountability (as prescribed in the Preamble) in the practice of its journalism?

Yes

What is the URL?

https://ltv.lsm.lv/satura-veidosana/sabiedrisko-mediju-redakcionalas-vadlinijas, part 1.3

9.4. Conflicts of Interest

Editorial Guidelines shall ensure that there are no conflicts of interests – real, potential or perceived – damaging the integrity of the story or the editorial independence of those working on it. They should have guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to political, business and personal interests. Editorial structures should protect the journalism from any undue influence by the Media Outlet’s executive management or ownership authorities outside the formal editorial process and from any external interests, commercial, social or political.

Do your Editorial Guidelines include protections against real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Editorial independence is a core value set by the Editorial Guidelines. ": Public media are editorially independent and do not submit to the interests, influence, or interference from state authorities, local authorities, political parties, religious organizations, business interests, groups, or individuals." The editorial guidelines also require content creators to work within ethical norms, and the LTV Code of Conduct and Ethics (https://ltv.lsm.lv/storage/documents/files/0e3cc25a598fbdd7ee242a4559554056.pdf) stipulates that any conflict of interest must be reported to the manager, who decides on further action.

Do the guidelines include guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to business?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Editorial independence is a core value set by the Editorial Guidelines. ": Public media are editorially independent and do not submit to the interests, influence, or interference from state authorities, local authorities, political parties, religious organizations, business interests, groups, or individuals." The editorial guidelines also require content creators to work within ethical norms, and the LTV Code of Conduct and Ethics (https://ltv.lsm.lv/storage/documents/files/0e3cc25a598fbdd7ee242a4559554056.pdf) stipulates that any conflict of interest must be reported to the manager, who decides on further action.

Do the guidelines include guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to political interests?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Editorial independence is a core value set by the Editorial Guidelines. ": Public media are editorially independent and do not submit to the interests, influence, or interference from state authorities, local authorities, political parties, religious organizations, business interests, groups, or individuals." The editorial guidelines also require content creators to work within ethical norms, and the LTV Code of Conduct and Ethics (https://ltv.lsm.lv/storage/documents/files/0e3cc25a598fbdd7ee242a4559554056.pdf) stipulates that any conflict of interest must be reported to the manager, who decides on further action.

Do the guidelines include guidance on how to deal with conflicts related to personal interests?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Editorial independence is a core value set by the Editorial Guidelines. ": Public media are editorially independent and do not submit to the interests, influence, or interference from state authorities, local authorities, political parties, religious organizations, business interests, groups, or individuals." The editorial guidelines also require content creators to work within ethical norms, and the LTV Code of Conduct and Ethics (https://ltv.lsm.lv/storage/documents/files/0e3cc25a598fbdd7ee242a4559554056.pdf) stipulates that any conflict of interest must be reported to the manager, who decides on further action.

Does the Media Outlet’s structure protect the editorial processes from any undue influence from within or without?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

The independence of public media is guaranteed by the Law on Public Electronic Mass Media and Administration Thereof. Section 3(1) and (2) reads as follows:
(1) Public electronic media shall be free from political, economic, special interest group and other interference in their activities.
(2) The State shall ensure the independence of the public electronic media.
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