The Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) have issued a joint call for journalists and public relations professionals to exercise care, scrutiny, and professional judgement in their work, following a recent ruling by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
In a joint statement – published below – responding to the ruling in the Fraser v Telegraph.co.uk case, both organisations emphasised that rigorous verification and adherence to professional standards remain essential to maintaining public confidence in both journalism and public relations, particularly at a time of increased misinformation and the resulting erosion of public trust.
The ruling found that an article published by The Telegraph breached the accuracy requirements set out in the Editors’ Code of Practice.
Responding to the decision, the two professional bodies stressed that the case should serve as a reminder that accuracy and due diligence must remain at the centre of professional practice.
Trust is the cornerstone of credible journalism and ethical public relations alike. As recent events demonstrate, the deliberate or careless use of unverified sources, including fake experts or actors seeking to manipulate coverage, risks undermining confidence in our shared work. The scrutiny on our work, the speed that information now travels, and the resources available to us create a recipe that is potentially damaging to public trust and the ability to do our jobs effectively. The CIPR is committed to supporting our members in navigating these challenges with care and professionalism so that the public can continue to have confidence in the vital work we do.
CIPR President Farzana Baduel Chart.PR, Hon FCIPR
There is a plethora of mis- and dis-information being pedalled in the world right now, by those seeking to influence or undermine. When respected media organisations get caught like this, it should encourage everyone to sit up and take notice. Newsrooms are getting smaller and journalists are under immense pressure, not just to fill pages with quality stories, but also to weed out untrustworthy material from the torrent of increasingly complex and tangled information and data coming at them with speed and scale.
We join with the CIPR to urge all publishers to make sure that journalists are given enough time and support to allow for extra scrutiny in their work.
CIoJ President, Gerald Bowey
CIoJ and CIPR statement
The Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) acknowledge the recent ruling by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) in Fraser v Telegraph.co.uk (Ruling 02104-25), in which a published article was found to have breached the fundamental requirement for accuracy under the Editors’ Code of Practice.
As the professional bodies representing journalists and public relations practitioners, we emphasise the need for rigorous verification, careful judgement, and adherence to established editorial standards and professional codes of conduct as the bedrock of credibility. Accuracy is not optional but a professional and ethical obligation that safeguards public trust and underpins the integrity of our respective professions.
This ruling highlights that even well-resourced newsrooms and agencies can fall short of these standards and serves as a timely reminder that all journalists and PR professionals must take time and care in exercising their professional judgement. In an era of information overload and public scepticism where unscrupulous actors – whether individuals, organisations, or automated systems – seek to mislead or politicise the news agenda, those responsible for pitching stories and reporting them must be especially vigilant.
The two bodies have come together to urge members to:
- Interrogate all information, particularly from opaque or dubious sources.
- Apply the highest standards of diligence when working with partners and clients and reporting, particularly on sensitive issues or human subjects.
- Be alert to the risks posed by misinformation, deep-fakes, and other manipulative tactics that can erode trust in our professions.
Journalists and public relations professionals do vital work in informing the public, holding power to account, and illuminating important stories. That work depends on public confidence that is built on our commitment to truth, transparency, and professional judgement.
The CIoJ and the CIPR will continue to support their members through training, resources, and peer guidance to help navigate these challenges and uphold the standards that define our work.