Respect for truth and the public's right to know are overriding principles for all journalists. In pursuance of these principles journalists commit themselves to ethical and professional standards. All members of the AJA section engaged in gathering, transmitting, disseminating and commenting on news and information shall observe the following code of ethics in their professional activities. They acknowledge the jurisdiction of their professional colleagues in the AJA judiciary committees to adjudicate on issues connected with the code.

1. They shall report and interpret the news with scrupulous honesty by striving to disclose all essential facts and by not suppressing relevant, available facts or by distorting by wrong or improper emphasis.

2. They shall not place unnecessary emphasis on gender, race, sexual preference, religious belief, marital status or physical or mental disability.

3. In all circumstances they shall respect all confidences received in the course of their calling.

4. They shall not allow personal interests to influence them in the course of their professional duties.

5. They shall not allow their professional duties to be influenced by any consideration, gift or advantage offered and, where appropriate, shall disclose any such offer.

6. They shall not allow advertising or commercial considerations to influence them in their professional duties.

7. They shall use fair and honest means to obtain news, films, tapes and documents.

8. They shall identify themselves and their employers before obtaining any interview for publication or broadcast.

9. They shall respect private grief and personal privacy and shall have the right to resist compulsion to intrude on them.

10. They shall do their utmost to correct any published or broadcast information found to be harmfully inaccurate.