Abstract

Self-regulation has received scarce attention in Spain in both the professional arena, where its practical utility is not valued, and also in the academic world. The situation has improved in recent years and should continue, given the role that selfregulation plays in complex societies. Academic research must: critically analyze the work of self-regulation mechanisms and disseminate that research among the expert community and future professionals. In addition to presenting these ideas in detail, this article describes the findings of an analysis of the first hundred decisions of the FAPE’s Arbitration, Complaints and Deontology Commission, drawing conclusions about the work of this agency of self-regulation.

Abstract

The existence or lack of media accountability instruments in Catalonia, Galicia, Madrid, and Valencia is described. Among the 60 instruments analyzed are journalists associations and unions, press councils, codes of ethics, regulatory authorities, laws regulating the media, online media criticism by journalists bloggers, blogs about media written by members of the public, and viewers associations. A comparative perspective allows us to identify the status of these instruments in the areas studied, including their similarities and differences, and determine which ones are more consolidated within the studied media context.

Abstract

Deontological codes are a moral reflection centered on the duties and rights of a profession, which set the minimum moral standards required for its activity and which function as a self-regulating mechanism of professional praxis. This article analyzes the Public Relations codes of ethics of the public relations professional associations of Portugal and Spain to understand the common values that guide this activity. The purpose of the research was twofold: 1) to describe comparatively the public relations codes of ethics in force in the professional associations of two countries - Portugal and Spain; 2) to analyze and compare these codes following the global principles of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management. Through a qualitative comparative content analysis, guided by the Global Alliance’s 16 global principles, 7 core values were identified: (1) Working for the public interest; (2) Honesty, truth and fact-based communication; (3) Integrity; (4) Transparency; (5) Deal with the public with fairness and respect; (6) Behave in such a way as to magnify the profession; and (7) Act with professionalism. Although there are nuances in the regulatory framework of the local professional associations, there are global principles of practice that stand out and demonstrate the possibility of a global code of ethics for public relations.