The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has launched a Code of Fairness for news and current affairs broadcasters.
It includes a series of specific rules that govern fairness, objectivity and impartiality in news broadcasting.
Scandals in both the Irish and British media have dominated headlines over recent years.
BAI chairman Bob Collins said its new Code of Fairness had no basis in recent high-profile cases and had been in train for some time, but it does deal with very contemporary issues.
It has abandoned proposals contained in a draft code that would have seen broadcasters maintain a public register of interests, in which editors would have to make public their professional and financial interests.
Instead, a more general code is suggested in which conflicts of interest have to be raised by programme makers themselves so that broadcasters can decide whether such interests will have a material impact on a report.
A new rule on social media is included. It requires broadcasters to have policies in place for handling contributions to current affairs and news programmes.
However, detailed guidelines are yet to be worked out. The code will come into effect from 1 July.
