The annual report of the Association, the opinion of the Auditor and the elected Ethics Council approved at the meeting of the members of the Latvian Media Ethics Council

On March 25, the first remote general meeting of members of the association “Latvian Media Ethics Council” took place. At the time the Association’s first annual report and the opinion of the auditor were unanimously approved and the Ethics Council of the Association was re-elected in a stable composition. The Ethics Board will continue to be composed of Guntars Līcis (nominated by JSC “Latvijas Mediji”), Skaidrīte Lasmane (nominated by the Latvian Association of Journalists), Daiga Sproģe (nominated by JSC "DELFI"), Aleksandrs Mirlins (nominated by Latvian Press Publishers Association), Anda Rožukalne (nominated by Ltd "Novadu ziņas”), Andris Ķēniņš (nominated by the Latvian Broadcasting Association), Baiba Liepiņa (nominated by the Latvian Advertising Association), Dita Deruma (nominated by Ltd "TV NET") un Anna Peipiņa (nominated by Ltd "ŽURNĀLS SANTA").

Ethics Council of the Association elected in a stable composition will continue to monitor the implementation of the principles and norms of the Ethics Code of the Association, review complaints about ethical violations in the functioning of the media, and assess potential breaches of freedom of expression. The Association Statute also provides for the right of the Ethics Board to express its views on other sectoral issues related to risks to the media environment, editorial autonomy and media independence. The Ethics Council of the Association will meet for the first inaugural meeting in March this year.

In the light of the state of emergency and increased compliance with security measures, for the first time, the general meeting of members took place via online means of communication. Although several of the activities of the Association scheduled for April and May have been cancelled in the framework of the first month of Latvian media ethics, including the media forum “Badināt nedrīkst barot” scheduled for April 3, the Latvian Media ethics Council actively continues to work remotely, because the issues of the ethics of the media and the accuracy of information do not lose the spotlight during the spread of the infectious disease.

The purpose of the Association “Latvian Media Ethics Council” is to promote the development of ethical media practice and promote self-regulation of the media in the Latvian media room. Members represent all forms and genres media, media associations and organisations active in media research. Twenty-five members - Latvian Broadcasting Association, Latvian Press Publishers Association, Latvian Association of Journalists, Latvian Advertising Association, LETA, JSC “Other Medijs”, Ltd “Novadu ziņas”, JSC “Latvijas Mediji”, JSC “DELFI”, SJSC “Latvijas Televīzija”, SJSC “Latvijas Radio”, Ltd “Firma Zemgale”, Ltd “Žurnāls Santa”, Ltd “Cēsu Druva”, Ltd “Reģionu Medijii”, SJSC “Latvijas Vēstnesis”, Ltd “Stockholm School of Economics in Riga”, Ltd “TV NET”, Ltd “All Media Latvia”, Ltd “BAUSKA DZĪVE”, Ltd “Staburags”, Ltd  “JAUNAIS KURZEMNIEKS”, Ltd “VALMIERAS TV” and Ltd “VIDZEMES TELEVĪZIJA”.

In order to promote the development of ethical media practice and self-regulation of the media, the Association calls on the media, their organisations, and professional organisations and industry professionals to become members of the Latvian Media Ethics Council. Any legal person or partnership whose principal activity is in the field of media or actively supports the actions of the Association and is interested in the success of it, can become a member. As an associate member, any person who has the capacity and rights to act and agrees with the Statute of the Association may become a member of the Association. More information on participation can be obtained on the website of the Association at www.lmepadome.lv.

Information regarding the work of the Latvian Media Ethics Council has been prepared with financial support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia within the framework of the participation agreement on the task of the State administration - strengthening the critical thinking of the public in relation to the content of the media and promoting media responsibility.