TEXT OF THE PRINCIPLES AFFIRMED BY THE GAZETTE-GUILD PACT:

• Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are crucial matters for the public, The Gazette and the journalists it employs, and are enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All publishers must preserve and defend those rights;
  
  
• Journalists and other staff working for The Gazette recognize that they are employees of a company. Legally, they are bound by the same obligations as the employees of any other firm in any economic sector;
  
  
• Equally, the parties agree that they have an obligation to serve the public trust. In that regard, both journalists and The Gazette should work to ensure freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Journalists must be free to produce fair, accurate and balanced coverage and analysis of the news, to contribute to the formation of editorial policy taking into account the publisher's ultimate right to determine such policy, and to contribute to and participate in open public debate;
  
  
• The parties recognize the need to respect and balance the legal obligations and rights of both journalists and The Gazette as employer. These rights include those of the owner, represented by the publisher, to run that newspaper consistent with the law, the practices of journalism and of ethics. Both owners and journalists owe obligations of prudence, diligence, honesty and fidelity to the public.