The values we share: Towards an inclusive ethics of dialogic communication examines how ethical principles for dialogue and participation can contribute to more inclusive and accountable forms of public communication in the digital age. The article explores how existing ethical codes and normative guidelines address dialogic communication—not only in journalism, but across a broader range of public communication contexts—and what these approaches can teach us about fostering democratic participation and social cohesion. The article is authored by CMC researchers Tobias Eberwein, Marie Rathmann and Krisztina Rozgonyi, together with an international team of researchers from across Europe.

Drawing on a comparative analysis of 429 ethical codes and normative documents across eight European countries, the study examines how different institutions and communication contexts define responsible communication. The analysis covers Austria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Switzerland, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to identify recurring principles as well as examples of good practice.

The findings show that existing ethical frameworks continue to focus predominantly on journalism and media professionals, while comparatively few documents explicitly address the responsibilities and needs of media users and other participants in public communication. At the same time, the study identifies a range of good-practice examples that emphasise dialogue, participation, inclusion and accountability. These findings provide important insights for developing an inclusive ethics of dialogic communication that extends beyond traditional professional boundaries and recognises the shared responsibilities of different actors in contemporary communication environments.

The article forms part of the Horizon Europe project DIACOMET, which explores the transformative potential of dialogic communication for democratic societies. By examining existing ethical frameworks, the study provides a scientific foundation for developing research-informed Principles for Dialogue-Supportive Communication and for strengthening both media and civic accountability.

The research contributes to current debates on communication ethics in the digital age and offers practical guidance for media practitioners, policymakers and citizens seeking to support more inclusive, participatory, and socially cohesive forms of public communication.

Reference: Eberwein, T., Rathmann, M., Rozgonyi, K., Amigo, L., Biljak Gerjevič, R., Duvekot, S., de Haan, Y., Juraitė, K., Juurik, M., Porlezza, C., Tolonen, E., & Uszkiewicz, E. (2026). The values we share: Towards an inclusive ethics of dialogic communication. Communications, 51(2).

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The values we share: Towards an inclusive ethics of dialogic communication