ABC named as 1st UK certifier for Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI)

ABC, an independent industry-owned auditor with expertise in the fields of brand safety, ad fraud and data privacy, has become the first UK-based certifier for the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) audit. This international benchmark, developed at the initiative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), is used to assess the professionalism of news publishers.

As an approved JTI certifier, ABC will offer UK-based publishers the audit required for JTI Certification. Achieving certification following ABC’s independent audit will demonstrate a media outlet’s commitment to delivering ethical, high quality and transparent journalism in compliance with the JTI Standard.

Setting benchmarks for transparency, responsibility, and accountability of media outlets, the JTI is itself designed as an ISO-type standard which assesses a publisher’s information service to check if it complies with 130 criteria. Initiated and promoted by the Paris-based press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the ultimate goal of JTI is to support the right to information by making it easier for citizens to identify reliable media.

“We are delighted that a market as dynamic as the UK’s can now count on a professional auditor like ABC to deliver JTI Certification,” said Fiona O’Brien, Director of RSF’s UK Bureau. “RSF and ABC will work hand in hand to help publishers embark on the certification process. The JTI Standard can support and consolidate existing approaches to trust in news and media in the UK.”

Publishers wanting to show they comply with the JTI Standard start by completing a free self-evaluation on jti-app.com. The self-evaluation involves answering 130 questions and then publishing the results in a JTI transparency report. This first step helps media outlets prepare for the subsequent audit needed to obtain JTI Certification. During the audit process, newsrooms are asked to make any adjustments needed to achieve certification.

“We’re proud to be appointed as the first UK certifier for the Journalism Trust Initiative,” ABC Chief Executive Simon Redlich said. “As an industry-owned auditor, our role has always been to strengthen trust in media by enabling companies to demonstrate their credibility in tangible ways. This aligns perfectly with the JTI’s aim to provide trustworthy journalism with a tool to clearly distinguish itself in our busy information space.”

ABC is currently undergoing accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065, the standard required of bodies delivering this certification.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) defends the right of every human being to have access to free and reliable information. This right is essential to know, understand, form an opinion and take action on vital issues in full awareness, both individually and collectively. The mission is to act for the freedom, pluralism and independence of journalism and defend those who embody these ideals. The annual World Press Freedom Index measures the state of press freedom in 180 countries.

Initiated and promoted by RSF, the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) is an international standard for trustworthy journalism that focuses on the identity and transparency of media outlets and on professional standards and accountability mechanisms that govern their news production. It was developed by a panel of 100+ international experts under the aegis of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and published as Workshop Agreement CWA 17493 in December 2019 in the form of an ISO-type standard. It receives support from partners such as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Agence France Presse (AFP) and many newsrooms around the world.

It is currently being used by 750+ newsrooms around the world, 80+ of which have publicly disclosed their compliance with the many criteria of the norm. It is an ISO-type standard that offers the possibility to be independently audited. So far, 16 publishers went this extra mile and have been awarded a JTI Certification.

ABC is an independent industry-owned auditor, structured to deliver impartial and trusted assurance services. Its audit programmes underpin a range of industry standards and bespoke requirements globally. With a wealth of experience, its teams are expert in areas such as brand safety, data privacy, ad fraud, and TV measurement. As a non-profit distributing organisation, value for money is built into ABC’s core, as it focuses on delivering audit services that address industry needs.