Journalistic Standards and Practices
IV. PRODUCTION STANDARDS
B: INFORMATION PROCESSING
8. INTERFERENCE
8.1 REQUESTS TO THE CBC TO WITHHOLD MATERIAL
Once material is recorded in accordance with journalistic policies, it may be used for broadcast provided no considerations intervene outweighing the program need, and no other agreement was made at the time of recording.
Good judgment must be exercised to balance the reasons for a request to withhold material against program requirements. There may be strong reasons for the request, which may outweigh the need to include the material in a program. Such reasons could include compassionate grounds or a lapse of time during which the context may have changed.
There may be legal rights and obligations on both the Corporation and on persons whose statements or interviews have been recorded which affect consideration of this issue. If requests are made to withhold material from broadcast after it has been willingly recorded, producers and supervisors must consider the nature of any agreement which was made at the time of the recording. If the projected use of the material is in accordance with that agreement, and provided no other considerations intervene, a request to withhold the material from broadcast should not be granted.
Efforts should always be made to explain the Corporation's position to the protesting party.
8.2 VETO OF PROGRAM MATERIAL BY INVITED PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
Participants in programs will not be granted the right to veto any portion of a program.
The responsibility for program material cannot be transferred from the CBC, which is solely responsible for what it broadcasts, and for ensuring programs follow its journalistic policies.
Invited participants will have a particular view of the subject of a program and of their role in or opinion of the subject. The CBC must not expose itself to pressures from one or more participants. Unfairness and lack of balance could be the result.
Where program material has been affected as a result of submission to censorship authorities, it should be so identified on the air.
There may also be cases where the journalist in pursuing, preparing or filing a story has been hampered in any of a number of ways. Examples might include : being subjected to coercive or threatening behavior of any kind; being required to use a translator, camera operator or other support staff supplied by a government or other body; denial of access to individuals willing to be contacted, or to a particular area; refusal by an agency to feed material on request.
Where such restrictions are deemed to have had any serious effect they should be brought to the attention of the audience at the time of broadcast.
Reference:
I.4. CBC Program Content Responsibility
IV.A.3. Privacy
IV.A.5. Rights of Participants and Interviewees
IV.A.9. Coverage of Violent Acts
