Accountability systems
Self-regulation mechanisms are very weak in El Salvador. The closest thing similar to a self-regulation system for journalists is the Ethics Code from APES. This code in not acknowledged by the owners of the communication media. There are no organisations or mechanisms within the communication media to establish an ombudsman.
Owners of media companies have always publicly rejected any attempt to regulate their actions, arguing that “there is already a self-regulation.” They also implicitly argue the traditional motto that “the best law is the inexistent one.” Nowadays there are only fading memories of the 2006 initiative implemented by commercial media titled Media United for Peace (MEUNO), where most of communication media committed themselves to give a more professional approach to news about violence to seek an improvement in the peace climate of the country.