Claude-Jean Bertrand, Creator of the Media Accountability System (M*A*S*) Concept, Dies

Institute to Oversee His Web-based Compilation of Media Ethics Resources

Dean Mills Convergence Journalism Dean

Links

Council of Europe Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute European Institute for the Media European Journalism Centre Independent Press Councils International Press Institute Reynolds Foundation United Nations Development Programme Universite de Paris-2

Columbia, Mo. (Oct. 3, 2007) -- Officials at the Missouri School of Journalism and the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute are saddened to learn of the recent death of Claude-Jean Bertrand. An expert in the fields of global journalism and media ethics, he created the Independent Press Councils Web site to improve media by providing a recognized set of ethical rules respected by journalists around the world.

Claude-Jean Bertrand Image courtesy Universite de Paris-2

According to Bertrand's Web site, these rules and practices can be classified as Media Accountability Systems, or M*A*S*, which include "any non-governmental means of inducing media and journalists to respect the ethical rules set by the profession." Examples are codes of conduct, press councils, ombudsmen, organizations, research and audits.

Bertrand taught at the university level in the United States, France, Spain and Africa and was a professor emeritus at the Institut francais de press (Universite de Paris-2). Since the mid-'90s, Betrand had participated in the Council of Europe, the European Journalism Centre, the European Institute for the Media, the International Press Institute, the United Nations Development Programme and other media ethics conferences on five continents. Bertrand authored, co-authored and edited numerous books on media ethics and the media that have been published in numerous languages.

Bertrand transferred his Web site to the Reynolds Journalism Institute in 2006 to ensure its permanence and make it more easily accessible worldwide. It contains the largest collection of press codes of conduct, numbering more than 400, in the world. There are close to 500 titles of books and 250 Web links related to media ethics, a directory of world press councils and a large number of documents concerning M*A*S*.

"We will always be grateful to Claude-Jean for this rich resource for journalism and scholarship," said Dean Mills, dean of the Missouri School of Journalism.

The materials on the site come from a variety of sources both within and outside the profession. Information from the journalism field includes M*A*S* documents containing codes of press conduct, ombudsmen feedback, academic research, media-oriented non-government organizations and ethical audits. Non-journalism sources include journalism reviews and input from the cooperation of the media and the public through press councils.

Contributions about conferences, books about media ethics or M*A*S*, scandals, trials and other demonstrations involving media ethics and related topics are welcome.

The Reynolds Journalism Institute engages media professionals, scholars and other citizens in programs aimed at improving the practice and understanding of journalism in democratic societies. The Institute was funded by a $31 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, it is one of the largest private foundations in the United States.

Related

Sept. 25, 2007: Journalistic Principles Can Survive and Thrive in Digital Environment It's the question that is on the minds of many editors and reporters these days: How can we ensure that the most important journalistic principles survive this time of fast-paced change? Some insights into how these values can make the transition will be shared Monday, Oct. 29, at the 2007 Curtis B. Hurley Symposium at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. "New Media, Enduring Values" will be held from 9-11 a.m. with a continental breakfast served at 8:30 a.m. [More]

Sept. 26, 2006: Upcoming Symposium to Discuss "New Media, Enduring Values" The Missouri School of Journalism and the Committee of Concerned Journalists will commemorate their alliance at an upcoming symposium at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The new partners will announce projects that exhibit the kind of work their partnership makes possible. All are designed to point toward promising ways in which journalism's most important values can be translated, and made even more effective, in the digital world. [More]

Jan. 17, 2006: Innovative Digital eMprint Delivers Breaking News With a federal court's decision on the public school teaching of "intelligent design" looming in mid-Dec., Nieman Reports Editor Melissa Ludtke knew that her upcoming issue of the quarterly journalism magazine, with a collection of articles about news coverage of the intelligent design debate, would not reach its worldwide audience of journalists before the judge issued his ruling. Using an eMprint newsbook, however - a pioneering digital publishing platform - Ludtke was able to send a section of stories by e-mail to hundreds of journalists worldwide who are Nieman Fellow alumni. [More]

Aug. 30, 2005: New Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute to Focus on the Future of Journalism On Sept. 1, the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute will hold its groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. near the Institute's new home on the northeast corner of Francis Quadrangle on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. The Reynolds Journalism Institute is a new center that will be a nucleus of collaborative innovation, research and demonstration of new technologies and processes that improve journalism. [More]

Feb. 25, 2005: Construction Plans for the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute Approved by the UM Board of Curators The University of Missouri Board of Curators at its Feb. meeting approved construction and renovation plans for the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute. The new center will focus on advanced studies of journalism and its role in democratic societies. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation awarded the Missouri School of Journalism $31 million for the creation of the Institute in Feb. 2004. Of this gift, $18.6 million will be spent on construction and technology, $12.4 million on programs. [More]

Feb. 25, 2005: Symposium to Address Improved Access to Government Information An upcoming seminar will examine the off-the-record briefings, anonymous sourcing and official leaking that plague Washington -- and the atmosphere of heightened government secrecy underlying them. "To address the thicket of Washington secrecy requires us first to acknowledge some of the unspoken truths about its allure, both for government and for the press. We hope to emerge with actionable steps that address this longstanding problem," said Geneva Overholser, moderator of the program and the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting. [More]

Jan. 17, 2005: Upcoming Hurley Symposium to Address Issue of Citing Anonymous Sources The Fifth Annual Curtis B. Hurley Symposium will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 17 at the National Press Club, 14th and F Street NW, Washington, D.C. At this meeting, a coalition of organizations will gather to discuss access to government information on the record, with an intent to craft steps toward a solution to the increasing reliance on anonymous sources and off-the-record briefings. [More]

Oct. 25, 2004: Pam Johnson Named First Executive Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at Missouri Pam Johnson will be the first executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism, Dean Mills, dean, announced today. She will begin her responsibilities on Nov. 15. "We are delighted we could persuade Pam Johnson to lead the Reynolds Institute. She has a unique set of strengths that make her ideal for the job," Mills said. [More]

Aug. 23, 2004: Roger Fidler Named Inaugural Fellow of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute Roger Fidler has been named the inaugural Visiting Fellow of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism. He plans to launch the world's first live digital newspaper edition through the school's community daily, the Columbia Missourian, as his Fellow's project. [More]

March 31, 2004: Upcoming Hurley Symposium to Discuss: "Where Is the Public in Public Affairs Reporting?" Journalists talk endlessly about what's wrong with the press. Academics, politicians, business executives and other "experts" regularly get into the discussion. But what about the people whom the press supposedly exists to serve? The Fourth Annual Curtis B. Hurley Symposium, at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 15, will feature five panelists answering the question, "Where is the Public in Public Affairs Reporting," from broadly different perspectives. [More]

Feb. 9, 2004: Donald W. Reynolds Foundation Grant Largest Ever for University of Missouri The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation announced today the awarding of $31 million to the Missouri School of Journalism for the creation of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, a center that will focus on advanced studies of journalism and its role in democratic societies. The award is the largest private donation ever to the University of Missouri.

June 6, 2003: Panel Discusses, Offers Tips Regarding Journalistic Accountability Journalists shaken by five weeks of scandal at The New York Times were reminded Thursday that living up to their own standards is the first line of defense. The panel, examining the fallout from the Jayson Blair misdeeds, and the resignation of the two top Times editors, was co-sponsored by the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting at the Missouri School of Journalism and by Investigative Reporters and Editors. It was held in conjunction with the annual IRE convention in Washington, D.C. [More]