Regulation of communication in latin america, spain and portugal: overview of the proffessional codes of ethics

Abstract

If professional ethics is defined as "the set of principles, attitudes, virtues and ethical standards and specific ways to judge the ethical conduct that characterizes a particular group of professionals" (Prado, 1999, p. 27); in the case of communicators it is essential not only to act in accordance with these principles, but even to ensure the compliance of the same in the institutions for which they work. The professionals linked to the communication field work with messages that can affect perception (Blazquez, 1994), and for that reason deontological ethics is very suitable for establishing guidelines for the performance of the profession. Based on the foregoing, this research offers an overview of the application of ethical principles in the organizations that are related with journalists and communicators in Latin America, Spain and Portugal: professional associations, civil society organizations having an observer status in the ethical aspects of communication, trade union bodies and public and private media.