Ethics is part of doing and saying the right thing in society. The truth fits in to the picture in that you should not lie about anything in a story. Ethics and truth are not the the same thing. Sometimes the truth should not be told in order to be ethical.
Ethics seek to minimize harm by for example say something in a nice way.
The journalist is one that is protected by these codes of ethics, but I think the people should also be protected just as much because the stories reported are those of the people. If I could add a point, it would be that the people should have a good relationship with journalists and be able to voice their opinions about what is being reported. Then journalists should try to give the people what they want.