Ethics in society at all levels: political, civil society, media and business. Contribution by Professor John Horgan, Press Ombudsman (Ireland)

Abstract

Over the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the European Union in the question of media regulation. The oldest media regulation system, that of the Swedish Ombudsman and Press Council, dates from 1916. That model, and many others of more recent date, form part of the AIPCE – the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe. To the best of my knowledge, no two press councils in Europe are the same. This is not a weakness. It reflects the fact that each institution has emerged organically from the culture and history of the state in which it is situated. The name of our organization – it is an “Alliance”, not an “Association” - underlines the fact that uniformity of structure, or of policy, is neither desirable nor necessary. At the same time, the existence and the regular meetings of the Alliance provide an invaluable forum for the exchange of views and experiences, so that each local organization can benefit from the accumulated wisdom of the others. What I have to say to you today is based largely on that shared experience, for which I am grateful to my colleagues in a number of other countries