A Step Forward

Those of you with a keen eye will have certainly noticed, the number of this week's edition of our magazine is not 82, following last week's 81, but number 1. The reason for this is easily explained: It marks the inauguration of Doctor Wine as an 'official' magazine, in other words it is no longer just a 'simple' website.
The change in numbering was in accordance with Italian law regarding the registration and publication of all journalistic products whether they be printed, broadcast or online. One of the fundamental requisites for registration is that the director belong to the national Order of Journalists, as must the journalists who are members of the staff. In our case both the director, Daniele Cernilli, and I, the chief editor, have been professional, registered journalists for quite a few of years. What changes now? For us nothing because we have always sought to be professional in our work and to respect the regulations governing journalism. But this will be a further guarantee for you readers. Every publication is 'obliged' to obey the regulations set down in the law n. 196/2003 and the journalists' professional code of 1998. Anyone who fails to do so will face the legal consequences, both penal and civil. Aside from these laws – that apply more to the media in general that a publication on wine and food – there are other norms that may not have the force of law but deal with professional ethical conduct.
The Charter of Duties states that the independence and credibility of the journalist are two absolute, binding ethical values on the same level of being truthful. The independence of a journalist is a guarantee of objectivity in providing information. Credibility is judged by the community that constantly verifies whether the information given by the journalist is true and accurate.
Doctor Wine has always respected these norms because we feel they are indispensable for anyone employed in the information media. Now that Doctor Wine has been officially registered as a magazine this has become obligatory. While for us this commitment has always existed, you readers now have the power to legally chastise us if we do not do our job correctly.