CBC/RADIO-CANADA UPDATES JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS AND PRACTICES

TORONTO, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - CBC News has adopted an updated and modernized Journalistic Standards and Practices (JS&P) document, which has been reviewed and approved by CBC/Radio-Canada's Board of Directors. The new standards and practices become effective immediately.

"As a national public broadcaster, we have always held ourselves to the highest standards of accuracy and fairness when it comes to our news and current affairs," says Hubert T. Lacroix, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. "The previous document has served us well as an objective guide by which we are both accountable to our audiences and transparent as to how we act. This latest version also takes into account many of the new situations we encounter in the world of social media and the internet."

"In a quickly-evolving and multi-platform world of news, quasi-news and opinion, we are among few news organizations in the world to have plainly-stated principles that we make public and are then measured against and held to through the mechanism of an independent public ombudsman," says Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor in chief of CBC News. "We believe this latest iteration will add to the value and excellence of CBC journalism."

"While the basic principles which guide our work have not changed, the universe in which we practice our craft has changed significantly," says Alain Saulnier, executive director, news and current affairs, Radio-Canada. "Therefore, there are no fundamental changes to our traditional core values, but we now have a more modern, more relevant document as a guide. This document is meant to inspire employees of the news service and the general public who may refer to it."

In May 2009, CBC/Radio-Canada's news divisions began the process to update and revise the JS&P document in light of the current broadcasting environment, new technologies and to ensure the organization's services continue to satisfy audience expectations and its public broadcasting mandate.

The completed document was reviewed by two independent experts, who concluded that the standards and practices meet or exceed industry standards. They are:

• Robert Steele, Distinguished Professor of Journalism Ethics, DePauw University, The Nelson Poynter Scholar for Journalism Values at The Poynter Institute; and Director, The Janet Prindle Insitute for Ethics;
  
  
• Pierre Trudel, Directeur du Centre d'etude sur les medias, Titulaire de la Chaire L.R. Wilson sur le droit des technologies de l'information et du commerce electronique, Centre de recherche en droit public, Universite de Montreal.

With approval, the JS&P document will be available internally for use by journalists as well as externally for the public. The document is available to the public online at: http://cbc.radio-canada.ca/jsp

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

For further information:

Jeff Keay, CBC media relations, 416 205 3987, [email protected]