The Royal Gazette is today marking World Press Freedom Day, a day set aside by United Nations organisation Unesco to emphasise the importance of media freedom and to mark progress, or the lack thereof, around the world.

This event has added currency in Bermuda this year as this newspaper in particular has come under attack by some public figures.

There is some heartening news. We report today on a survey commissioned by this newspaper and carried out by the Bermuda Omnibus Survey that shows that people in Bermuda value freedom of the press and consider it to be important.

It is also welcome that this newspaper's A Right to Know Campaign, which called for the introduction of long-awaited Public Access to Information laws, has wide support.

It is also important to note that a significant majority of the public support some form of Press Complaints Council. This shows that people recognise that the media, as it exercises its freedoms, also has responsibilities and should be held accountable. The media generally recognises this as well, and this newspaper is the first to admit that it is not perfect and will correct its mistakes in cases of genuine error.

As part of this effort, The Royal Gazette today makes public its Code of Conduct, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of this newspaper and its journalists. Much of it is based on the Editors' Code enshrined in the British Press Complaints Council rules. We would welcome comments and criticism of code, which will guide us as we go forward.

Many of the items in the code are self-explanatory and inarguable, and this is part of the reason why this newspaper has not had as detailed a code in the past. We have instead relied on the training, professionalism and good judgment of our reporters, photographers and editors to act ethically and responsibly. But it does no harm and much good to let our readers and the general public know the standards which we expect of ourselves and to be open and transparent about how we function, so we publish it today.

At the same time, we have today published the Declaration of Chapulpetec, a series of principles on which freedom of the press is based, and an explanation of why it matters.

This Declaration, a project initiated by the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) has been signed by leaders of virtually all the countries in the Americas, and we urge Bermuda's leaders to do the same.

Journalists jealously guard the freedom of the press, both on their own behalf and on behalf of the public whom we serve. The latter point is important because journalists often act as surrogates and watchdogs for the public. All members of the public have basic rights to attend the courts, Parliament and other civic institutions, but often do not have the time to do so. The media, then, attends on their behalf.

And it is widely recognised as well that the media acts on behalf of the public as a watchdog, to ensure that laws and policies are carried out effectively, that money is spent effectively and that those who govern do so effectively and well. Beyond that, others who are in positions of trust or who provide services to the public must also be monitored.

To do so effectively, journalists must enjoy basic freedoms of speech, the right to question and seek information and access. These freedoms, even when they are widely recognised and accepted, can be eroded without much notice, or occasionally with the best of intentions.

It is the media's role, albeit one that may appear to be driven by self-interest, to speak out when they are threatened.