In 2023, Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication Ethics celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The journal's 'Aims and scope' outlined at the beginning of every issue highlight its guiding principles, namely internationalism, individual integrity, respect for difference and diversity, interdisciplinarity, theoretical rigour and practitioner focus.

And an editorial in its first issue in 2003 stressed that it was 'a journal with a difference', determined to tackle in original ways the major communication, political, cultural and environmental issues of the day.

This special volume draws together papers from those two decades under four main themes: 'Directing a critical spotlight on the mainstream', 'Alternative voices', 'Public relations: Beyond propaganda' and 'Speaking out on ethics'.

It follows the publication of Volume 1 which brought together 27 chapters under the themes of 'Communication ethics: Philosophical and theoretical reflections', 'New media, new ethical challenges', 'Professionalisation and media ethics: Beyond the rhetoric', 'Communication ethics and pedagogy' and 'Speaking out on ethics'.

In her Foreword, Karen Sanders comments on ES: 'Its mere existence is a testament not only to the tenacity and hard work of its editorial team and contributors but also to the fact that ethics matter and will continue to do so.'