ACME congratulates The Observer on its 10th anniversary

The management and staff of African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) congratulate The Observer on this your 10^th anniversary.

We hope you can maintain your analytical, bold and independent brand of journalism for many more years to come.

At ACME we believe good journalism:

• provides information that is significant and relevant;
• is truthful and accurate;
• is fair and impartial;
• offers context and perspective;
• provides a civic forum that both informs and engages the public;
• is credible and authoritative;
• upholds the value of diversity;
• is independent (from vested interests, be they political or commercial); and
• is enterprising and interesting.

For journalists to produce good journalism, they require:

• a good understanding of the institution(s) or communities they cover;
• investing time and resources in research;
• an inquisitive mind and intellectual curiosity;
• a broad, all-round education;
• a multi-disciplinary understanding of issues;
• critical thinking;
• scepticism;
• humility;
• passion;
• determination and hard work;
• enterprise and creativity;
• continuing training and education; and
• decent compensation for their labour.

We also believe good journalism is too important to be left to journalists and media alone.

To advertisers

• Respect the media’s independence and in particular the firewall between advertising departments and newsrooms.
• Refrain from blackmailing the media into producing promotional stories instead of compelling journalism that informs and engages the public.

To civil society

• Promote and defend the right to press freedom and freedom of expression.
• Promote the right of access to information.
• Share information with the media.
• Hold the media accountable.

To citizens

• Demand timely, accurate and relevant information about public affairs.
• Share information with the media.
• Hold the media accountable.

To the government

• Promote and protect the right to press freedom and freedom of expression.
• Promote and protect the right of access to information.
• Account to the public on how it uses its power.
• Share information to promote public participation, transparency and accountability.

To media owners

• Facilitate your journalists to practice good journalism.
• Respect the independence of the newsroom.
• Promote and defend the right to press freedom and freedom of expression.
• Allow a diversity of views on your media platforms.
• Honour the public interest mission of journalism.