Journalistic Standards and Practices
Preamble
Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our society, since freedom itself cannot flourish without the free flow and exchange of ideas, opinions and information. This is a principle central to democracy and vital to the defence of individual liberty. As broadcast journalism has become a powerful and influential part of the information media, it shares the freedom, but must also recognize the obligations that come with it.
The Corporation enjoys administrative and programming independence from political and governmental direction. This independence permits the Corporation to discharge the role assigned to it within the Canadian broadcasting system. The autonomy of the Corporation is assured through the authority conferred by Parliament upon its Board of Directors. The directors act as Parliament's "trustees" to define and to guard the public interest and to ensure the Corporation's mandate is fulfilled. This principle of the "arm's length" relationship between the CBC and government is critical to the Corporation's independence, particularly with respect to its journalistic activities. However, there is no autonomy without responsibility.
2. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESS
As contemporary life becomes more complex, the distance between what we know and what we need to know for proper understanding and informed decision making seems to be greater than ever. Consequently, there has never been a greater need for truly effective media and for public confidence in the media. Trust in the media is of crucial importance. An increasingly sophisticated public, seeking ways to cope in an increasingly complex world, makes heavy demands on the media while at the same time expecting the highest standards of performance.
To meet these expectations, the media must be socially responsible; in other words, freedom of the media and the constitutional protection that it enjoys require responsibility to the public it serves. The broadcast media in particular have an obligation to be fair, accurate, thorough, comprehensive and balanced in their presentation of information. This is unmistakably true of a public broadcasting agency, which is accountable through its Board of Directors to the Parliament and people of Canada.
While the principles of good journalism remain the same among public and private, print and electronic media, there may be wide differences in their application. In CBC journalism those principles must govern daily practice so the Corporation's journalism will meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
