All media persons joining the WPFUK have to sign an agreement that they will uphold our professional principles.
We encourage our members to read and support our code of practice and we encourage our members to promote it in the media industry.
When you are a membership query about the code and its practical application, contact the federation membership team.
WPFUK membership also carries with it rights and responsibilities set out in the federation handbook.

News and media person: At all times upholds and defends the principle of news and media freedom, the right of freedom of expression, and the right of the public to be informed.
Strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair.
Does her/his utmost to correct harmful inaccuracies.
Differentiates between fact and opinion.
Obtains material by honest, straightforward, and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelmingly in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straightforward means.
Does nothing to intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest.
Protects the identity of sources who supply information in confidence and material gathered in the course of her/his work.
Resists threats or any other inducements to influence, distort or suppress information and takes no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of her/his duties before the information is public knowledge.
Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Does not by way of statement, voice or appearance endorse by advertisement any commercial product or service save for the promotion of her/his own work or of the medium by which she/he is employed.
News and media person shall normally seek the consent of an appropriate adult when interviewing or photographing a child for a story about her/his welfare.
Avoids plagiarism.

The WPFUK believes a news and media person has the right to refuse an assignment or be identified as the author of an editorial that would break the letter or spirit of the WPFUK code of practice.
The WPFUK will support news and media people who act according to the code.
WPFUK’s code of conduct was updated in 2020.