Requirements for transparent, professional and trustworthy journalism
What is JTI?
Journalism Trust Initiative is an international standard that helps news outlets benchmarking their transparency and their commitment to ethical journalistic practice. It provides a systemic approach to combat disinformation, and to foster a culture of transparency and responsibility in news publishing.
Journalism Trust Initiative supports the right of every human being to have access to free and reliable information.
How does it work?
JTI is translating existing professional norms into machine-readable code. At the manufacturing level of journalism, benchmarks of quality and independence must be transparent and verifiable to reinstate trust. JTI provides indicators for media outlets to self-assess and comply with – and for citizens, advertisers and regulators to reward it.
JTI is not ranking or rating individual pieces of content as such a mechanism might be misused to curtail the freedom of speech.
Developped by
130 experts from news organisations, journalist associations, publishers associations, regulatory and self-regulating organisations, academics, and more.
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
The BBC is the public service media group of the United Kingdom
Agence
France-Presse (AFP)
AFP is the third-largest international news agency, providing fast, accurate,
and impartial news worldwide
Agencia EFE
EFE is the leading news agency in Spanish and the fourth largest in the world, with 82 years of experience
Radio télévision Suisse (RTS)
Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) is a subsidiary of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), the public service media association of Switzerland
Gazeta Wyborcza
Gazeta Wyborcza is one of the leading daily newspapers in Poland
Associated Press (AP)
AP is an independent global news organisation
Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP)
RTP is the public service broadcasting organisation of Portugal
France Télévisions
France Télévisions is public service television broadcaster of France
Tagesspiegel
Der Tagesspiegel is a German daily newspaper
More than 2,400 media outlets across 127 countries participate in the Journalism Trust Initiative.
Mutual benefits in action
Service Providers & Media Outlets
Connection
Service providers &
Media Outlets
Service providers offer specialized training, funding opportunities, and technical support to media outlets, helping them meet JTI standards and improve their practices
01
Donors & Media Outlets
Connection
Donors &
Media Outlets
Donors use JTI-certified standards to direct funding to transparent, trustworthy outlets, while media outlets access more funding opportunities aligned with ethical practices
02
Certifiers & Media Outlets
Connection
Certifiers &
Media Outlets
Certifiers strengthen journalism standards by ensuring compliance with transparency and ethical principles, while media outlets gain trust and visibility
03
Tech Platform & Media Outlets
Connection
Tech Platforms &
Media Outlets
Use JTI standard as a criteria to favour trustworthy content though algorithmic indexation and increase visibility of compliant media
04
What is our story?
Initiated by Reporters Without Borders, Journalism Trust Initiative standard (CWA 17493:2019) has been created under the aegis of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) by 130 media organisations, journalists’ associations, editors associations, regulation and self-regulation bodies and other stakeholders of the news industry to promote independent, pluralistic and reliable information.
Partnership
Founding and Philanthropy partners, JTI developed by
European
Commission
Craig Newmark Philanthropies
National Endowment for Democracy
Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE)
The ministry supports initiatives that encourage freedom of opinion and expression and access to reliable information, and funds JTI operations.
Agence
France-Presse
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
Our Offices Around the World
With a global presence, RSF operates offices in key regions to support press freedom and independent journalism. Contact us for more information, collaboration opportunities, or support regarding our initiatives.
Europe&Americas
Paris
Chloé Fiodiere, [email protected]
London
Fiona O’Brien, [email protected]
Washington DC
Bertrand Mossiat, [email protected]
Rio
Bertrand Mossiat, [email protected]
Asia&Africa
Taipei
Cédric Alviani, [email protected]
Tunis
Alia Kerkeni, [email protected]
Dakar
Marc Aboflan, [email protected]
For general questions
Get answers to your questions
How long does it take to get a certification?
Obtaining a JTI certification takes approximately 1 to 3 months. The process begins with a self-assessment via the JTI app,
which takes a couple of hours. Next, the public disclosure step, where results are published as a transparency report, happens immediately. Finally, the certification step, which is optional and involves an independent audit, takes 1 to 3 months to complete.
What is assested during the certification?
- Identity & Transparency – This includes aspects such as ownership, management directory, contact details, address, communication with the audience, sources of revenue, and data collection.
- Professionalism & Accountability – This covers the editorial mission statement, accuracy and correction processes, conflicts of interest, sources, internal and external accountability, and training.
Where to begin?
To begin with the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification process, you need to create an account on the JTI app.
