The journalists, supervisors, media managers and academics who signed this document recognise the challenges that post-truth poses for journalism: disinformation and the massive spread of fake news, polarisation, distrust in the media, algorithms and their information bubbles, among others that add to the traditional challenges of the profession. In the face of uncertainty, we have one certainty: the future of journalism lies in consolidating what have always been its principles and ethical values.

Accordingly, we affirm the following precepts:

1. Responsibility is inherent to the practice of journalism, with the aim of guaranteeing the population its right to truthful and quality information.

We believe that journalism serves the public interest before any other interest. We recognize the editorial lines of the media, but we encourage independence of criteria and informative approach.

2. The preservation of the confidentiality of sources and the safeguarding of the dignity of news subjects are non-negotiable.

First and foremost, we are committed to protecting those who risk their safety to provide information in the public interest. We also act with sensitivity and common sense in handling information when it comes to children, survivors and victims of crime, or when dealing with sources who show little understanding of the implications of their participation in the media. We also respect the presumption of innocence of individuals.

We also try to comply with the right of individuals and institutions to offer their version of events prior to the publication of any information that affects them. We do this while respecting the privacy of individuals and carefully observing the blurring of the boundaries between public and private that new technological tools, particularly social networks, promote.

3. Journalistic work consists primarily of searching for the truth, publishing only verified and verifiable data, contrasted and contextualized.

We reject information manipulation and lies in journalistic work. In addition, we defend the attribution of authorship of information and the rigorous verification of news before its dissemination, guaranteeing precision and transparency in our journalistic work.

4. Journalism stands as a defender of its audiences against the proliferation of fake news.

We understand that journalism not only has the responsibility to challenge and expose fake news through fact-checking and by prioritizing investigative journalism, but also has the task of educating and empowering audiences in media literacy as an essential tool for the public to discern between truthful information and disinformation. We recognize that the trust and future of journalism also rests on this defense.

5. It is an individual responsibility to preserve the independence of journalism by rejecting favoritism, bribes or undue benefits.

No privileges are sought or granted by virtue of the profession, ensuring integrity in journalistic work.

6. In the face of information uncertainty, those who practice journalism must clearly delineate the boundaries between information and opinions, between journalistic content and advertising.

We understand that the lack of distinction between purely informative journalistic genres and interpretive and opinion genres, as well as receiving compensation for journalistic content and the sale of advertising or the image of journalists, can undermine audience confidence and the independence of the profession itself, beyond the individual.

7. Working conditions affect the quality of journalism.

We understand that, in order to guarantee high-quality journalism, journalists must have fair working conditions. In addition, it is essential that the work of journalism does not endanger lives or physical and emotional integrity, both our own and that of others, during the search, processing and dissemination of information.

8. An ethical and committed journalistic ecosystem is transparent and accountable.

We see it as an essential commitment to recognize and correct errors in publications, assuming responsibility for editorial and informational decisions in order to preserve the guarantee of a well-informed citizenry.

9. It is the responsibility of journalism to understand and communicate diversity and social complexity with dignity, examining its own biases to avoid discrimination and the promotion of discriminatory doctrines.

We recognize that language constructs reality, and its proper use is a responsibility in the practice of journalism. In this regard, we understand that it is urgent and necessary to renounce expressions, content and approaches that use language that is derogatory to the human condition. We assume that ethical journalism fairly represents the diversity of experiences in our society, and therefore seeks to open spaces to a variety of voices that reflect this context.

We also recognize that journalists must be trained and ensure that they use all the necessary tools to ensure that news products are accessible to the greatest number of people.

10. To understand and responsibly communicate the experiences of our society, diversity is necessary within newsrooms and journalism workshops.

We affirm that it is essential that journalism workshops be diverse in their composition in order to encourage a variety of perspectives, enrich the quality of information and more accurately reflect the plurality of the society that journalism serves.

11. Media diversity, through regional, independent and niche journalistic projects, enriches coverage, strengthens public debate and contributes to a more participatory society.

We recognize the value and importance of these media in the media ecosystem and in the defense of democratic values.

12. The links between academia and the country's media strengthen the quality of training and journalistic practice.

We are committed to strengthening collaboration between these two parties to promote academic and journalistic rigor.

For all these reasons, in defense of ethical, truthful and diverse journalism, we join today, Wednesday, November 8, 2023, in the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón Corazón, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in this expression that will serve as a commitment to ensure the training and performance of journalists committed to these precepts.