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Pakistan Digital Editors Alliance (PDEA)Charter/Constitution

Convener: Mahim Maher

General Secretary: Haroon Rashid

 SECTION I: TITLE

  1. The name of the organisation is Pakistan Digital Editors’ Alliance, which will be referred to as PDEA. The name was unanimously approved by the members at the initiation meeting.

SECTION II: CHARACTER

  1. The PDEA is an organisation of individuals working as editors of digital newsrooms across Pakistan, and will remain so for the length of its existence. PDEA is envisioned as a platform for ‘digital editors’ to collectively work towards common challenges that plague journalism in the country, including but not limited to freedom of media, attacks on journalists, and sustainability and viability of independent journalism.

It will work predominantly to tackle common problems related to digital spaces and digital media outlets. The organisation has been established on the principles of ensuring strengthening of pluralist democratic values and fundamental human rights, mainly media and digital freedoms. The body is independent of all ideological, political, government and religious bodies and remains so for the length of its existence.

SECTION III: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

  1. The key aims and objectives of the alliance are:
  • Working towards common goals, which includes but are not limited to policies on effectively ensuring media and digital freedoms, and protections of digital intellectual property, among others;
  • Promotion of high quality journalism in the country, and collaborations (wherever possible) among the digital editors;
  • Working towards and pushing for the viability and sustainability of independent digital journalism in the country; and lastly,
  • Ensuring and sharing best practices among the digital newsrooms (wherever possible) to contribute to the development of the sector.

SECTION IV: CODE OF CONDUCT

(a) Members must demonstrate the highest standards of respect, honesty, fairness, and ethical behavior;

(c) Members must refrain from actions that conflict with the principles or objectives of the Alliance or harm its interests;

(d) Members must avoid engaging in any behaviour which tarnishes the reputation of the Alliance or undermines the integrity of its operations;

(e) Members shall be deemed to represent themselves as independent editors and shall not represent their employing organisation. The association will not demand access to any information which is confidential to their current place of work, and shall at all times observe any and all policies, procedures, or other legal obligations of their employer regarding confidentiality and disclosure of information.

(f) Members must disclose any interests that may pose a conflict of interest and abstain from activities that could directly or indirectly result in such conflicts;

(e) Members must steadfastly uphold the principles of gender equality.

SECTION IV: MEMBERSHIP

  1. The Alliance may admit full membership to people who are heads of credible digital news outlets; journalists with an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the digital media scape in Pakistan with following considerations:
  • This is an alliance of editors of digital newsrooms and prominent journalists who can potentially contribute to the aims and objectives of the Alliance. For the purposes of this Charter, a digital editor is defined as an individual currently working as the ‘editor’, or a senior member of editorial staff at a digital news outlet in Pakistan, while a journalist is defined as someone who devotes, or has devoted, the greater part of their working time to the profession of journalism.
  • The alliance is dedicated to address the common challenges for independent digital journalism in Pakistan, including media and digital freedoms, and thus only individuals who can align themselves with the cause can become members.
  1. Application for membership will be made to the General Secretary and all potential members shall agree to follow and adopt the Charter of the alliance. The General Secretary then shall advise the Governing Body regarding the application.
  2. The Governing Body must carefully and thoroughly review applications before approving the membership. Membership of any person will be confirmed after at least two-thirds of the Governing Body members give their approval. It may even reject an application or defer an application for further consideration at its next meeting.
  3. All members will have the right of access to all working documents of the Alliance and can receive any additional information upon request at any time, with the exception of sensitive personal information.
  4. Any member who wishes to resign from the alliance must give a three months’ notice writing to the General Secretary.
  5. Any changes in the designation or news organisation of the members would not affect their membership, albeit a change in field would result in their immediate removal from the alliance.

SECTION V: GOVERNING BODY

  1. The Governing Body is responsible for all executive decisions related to the Alliance, and ensuring that the policies and working programme of the Alliance are carried out. The Body will have the power to decide Working Rules for its meetings and shall define a quorum too.
  2. The Governing Body will comprise members who were present at the inception meeting of PDEA, along with any other member who the original members wish to include. The process of appointing new members to the Governing Body will remain a discretionary power at the hands of the original members. Any person who has left the alliance will no longer be a part of the Governing Body.
  3. The Governing Body members will have the right to appoint their own Convener and General Secretary. The Convener and General Secretary must serve the post for a period of time as decided by the body.
  4. The body shall ensure that there is a record of all its deliberations and decisions.
  5. The Governing Body must meet at least three times a year. Members shall be informed of the date of the meeting at least one month in advance.

SECTION VI: MISCELLANEOUS 

  1. Matters which are not provided for the Charter shall be decided by the Governing Body.
  2. Any changes to the Charter must receive the approval of two-thirds of the Governing Body members through a vote in favor of the modification.
  3. The Charter is designed to be interpreted and implemented in a manner that avoids excessive formality and upholds the character and goals of the Alliance at all times.