With misinformation on the rise, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Not only does the spread of false information hurt the public and democracy, it also harms legitimate news media outlets that are forced to compete with lesser quality websites for readers’ attention and advertisers’ budgets.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global organization that advocates for the right to free and reliable information, recognized these challenges and collaborated with more than 130 media experts and organizations to create the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), a process to certify media outlets for their adherence to industry standards for ethical journalism. AAM is the first U.S.-based certifier for JTI.
RSF recently announced it will offer $2,500 grants to eight media outlets to apply toward the audit portion of the JTI certification process. If you are interested and would like to learn more about the program, here’s a brief overview of how JTI helps quality journalism stand out to advertisers and consumers.
Misinformation and disinformation have become lucrative global industries. According to one study, ad tech companies spend about $235 million annually by running ads on sites that publish misinformation. Such practices harm legitimate media outlets that must compete with lesser quality websites for revenue, audience share and visibility in a crowded marketplace. The JTI Standard gives quality journalism a competitive edge by providing a way for media outlets to be recognized for their commitment to transparency, journalistic ethics and adhering to industry standards.
JTI is a global program that is growing quickly with 450 media outlets from 70 countries in formats such as print, digital, radio and TV. As JTI’s roster grows, advertisers, consumers and governments can recognize JTI-certified outlets as providing high-quality content certified by a third party.
As part of the JTI certification process, media outlets are asked to perform three steps: complete a self-assessment, publish the self-assessment results via a public Transparency Report and participate in a third-party audit to verify the report. Participating in the process provides valuable insights for media outlets to understand how they compare to industry standards, which can lead to changes and editorial process improvements.
The JTI Mark is a symbol of transparency, quality and adherence to industry standards for journalistic ethics. Media outlets can promote their certification by displaying the JTI Mark on house ads, marketing materials, web pages, media kits and more.
The JTI Standard provides benefits for all sides of the media industry:
To learn more about the program or how to apply for a grant, contact me at kevin.rehberg@auditedmedia.com. Applications must be received by June 23.
