About the Council

The Union of the World Electronic Press Council (UCWEP) began operating as a civil society organisation under its founding president, journalist and author Hasan Taşkın. It was established by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Türkiye under Decree No. 2014-6743 of 11 September 2014, with the President’s approval.

Journalists, social media specialists, communications professionals and telecommunications experts serve in the Union’s leadership.

Electronic media can reach across borders, and anyone can now report online. The Union sees a need for self-regulation led by civil society, with education playing an important part.

UCWEP aims to contribute to that work by defending citizens’ freedom to obtain information and promoting accuracy and professional ethics.

Independent electronic and digital media councils and ombuds offices can help protect freedom and strengthen responsibility and accountability. The Union works to build recognition that free electronic media are accountable to the public.

UCWEP aims to help reliable news sites earn recognition. It plans to develop ratings such as Class A, B or C and encourage online outlets to follow the World E-Press Professional Principles. It also plans to develop the means to identify and publicly report sites that disregard those principles.

Raising standards on the internet and social media is one of the Union’s main objectives. Its work includes training, conferences, academic publications, doctoral research and promotional films.

The Union participates in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).