Journalistic Standards and Practices

The CBC occupies a unique position of trust. Not only is it the most substantial and broadly-based broadcast journalism organization in Canada, it is funded, through Parliament, by the people of Canada. The CBC therefore considers it a duty to provide consistent, high-quality information upon which all citizens may rely.

The Journalistic Standards and Practices provide the policy framework within which CBC journalism seeks to meet the expectations and obligations it faces. The following includes the amendments approved by the CBC Board of Directors in September, 2004.

Table of Contents

1. Foreword
2. Preamble
   1. Freedom of the Press
   2. Responsibility of the Press

I. LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

1. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
   
2. Common Law, Civil Law, and Legislation
   2.1 Legal Assistance
   2.2 Complaints With Legal Implications
   
3. The Broadcasting Act
   3.1 The Canadian Broadcasting System
   3.2 Programming Objectives for the CBC
   3.3 Journalistic Independence
   
4. CBC Program Content Responsibility
   

II. APPLICATION OF THE JOURNALISTIC POLICY

1. Application
   1.1 CBC Productions
   1.2 Broadcasting of Co-productions and Acquisitions  
   
2. Interpretation                                          
   

III. PRINCIPLES

1. CBC Philosophy
   
2. Journalistic Principles
   
3. Credibility
   
4. Diversity
   4.1 Range of Subjects
   4.2 Range of Opinions
   
5. Balance
   5.1 Single Program
   5.2 Program Series
   5.3 Continuing Programs
   5.4 Election or Referendum Campaigns
   
6. Program Funding
   6.1 General Guidelines
   6.2 Definition of a Funder
   6.3 Transparency of Funding
   
7. Bartered Airtime
   

IV. PRODUCTION STANDARDS

A: INFORMATION GATHERING

1. Research
2. Public Opinion Surveys
   2.1 CBC-Conducted Surveys
   2.2 Broadcasting Results of Surveys
   2.2.1 Non-CBC Surveys
   2.2.2 Broadcast Content
   2.3 Non-Scientific Surveys
   2.3.1 Statements of Opinion
   2.3.2 Telephone Votes
   
3. Privacy
   3.1 Legal Aspects
   3.2 Ethical Aspects
   3.2.1 Privacy versus Public Life
   3.2.2 Identity of a Suspect
   3.2.3 Identity of an Accused
   3.2.4 Identity of a Sex Offender
   3.2.5 Identity of Crime Victims
   3.2.6 Private Communications                                  
   
4. Protection of Sources
   4.1 Ethical Aspects
   4.2 Legal Aspects
   4.3 Anonymous Program Participants
   
5. Rights of Participants and Interviewees
   5.1 Refusal to Participate
   5.2 Interviews                                                               
   5.2.1 Request for Questions in Advance
   
6. Payments
   6.1 Payment to News Sources
   6.2 Payment of Fees
   6.3 Payments to Members of Public Bodies
   6.3.1 Payments of Members of Parliament and Senators
   6.3.2 Payments to Members of Provincial Legislatures or of Civic or Municipal Elected Public Bodies
   6.3.3 Provincial Legislation re: Corrupt Practices
   
7. Indirect Commercial Advertising
   
8. Coverage of Demonstrations
   
9. Coverage of Violent Acts
   9.1 Civil Disorder
   9.2 Terrorism and Hostage Taking
   
10. Clandestine Methods
    10.1 Misrepresentation
    10.2 Hidden Cameras
    
11. Investigative Journalism
12. Preservation of News Material                                  
    
13. Interview Without Consent
14. Live Two-way Reports                                                
    

IV. PRODUCTION STANDARDS

B: INFORMATION PROCESSING

1. On-Air Personnel
   1.1 Hosts and Interviewers
   1.2 Reporters
   1.3 Guest Commentators
   
2. Editing
   2.1 Editing Interviews
   2.2 Use of File Material                                            
   2.3 Recorded Material from Non-Journalistic Sources
   2.4 Editorial Use of Technology
   
3. Mixture of Production Forms
   3.1 Reconstruction and Simulation
   3.2 Mixture of Actuality and Dramatization
   3.3 Satire
   
4. Good Taste
   4.1 Language
   4.2 Sex and Nudity
   4.3 Grief and Suffering
   4.4 Violence
   4.5 Cautionary Announcements
   4.6 Applicable Laws and Regulations
   
5. Open-Line Programs                                              
   5.1 Call Screening
   5.2 Tally of Comments
   
6. Consumer Broadcasting
   
7. Manipulation of Public Opinion
   
8. Interference
   8.1 Requests to the CBC to Withhold Material
   8.2 Veto of Program Material by Invited Program Participants
   8.3 Censorship
   
9. Reply
   
10. Corrections
11. Verifications                                                            
    

IV. PRODUCTION STANDARDS

ONLINE POLICIES

Introduction

1. Balance
   
2. Online Polling
   
3. User Input
   
4. Archives
   
5. Links
   
6. Exchanges of Online Material With Other Organizations
   6.1 Use of Material From Other Journalistic Sources
   6.2 Joint Ventures
   

V. PERSONNEL STANDARDS

1. Socio-Political Activities
   1.1 Hiring or Casting of Persons Identified With Political Parties or Pressure Groups
   1.2 Political Activity - CBC Personnel
   
2. Conflict of Interest
   2.1 Policy
   2.2 Basic Principles
   2.3 Application
   2.4 Procedure
   2.4.1 Disclosure
   2.4.2 Use of Position at the CBC
   2.4.3 Outside Activities                                              
   2.4.4 Personal Business and Financial Interests
   2.4.5 Gifts and Other Benefits
   2.4.6 Personal Behaviour
   2.5 Exceptions to Policy
   2.6 Definitions
   2.7 Administration
   
3. Free Travel
   

Appendix A: 1. USE OF SOURCES 
                    2. GUIDELINES FOR DOCUMENTARIES 

1. Journalistic Sources                                        
   1.1 On the Use of Anonymous Sources: Identifying and Checking Sources
   1.2 Protecting Sources
   1.3 Transparency Air
   1.4 On a Source's Credibility
   1.5 Commitment of Confidentiality
   1.6 Off the Record
   1.7 Conditions for Anonymity
   1.8 Conclusion
2. Guidelines for Documentaries                                    
   2.1 Point of View Documentaries
   2.2 Point-of-view Documentaries in the Sense of Personal Journalism
   2.3 Point-of-view Documentaries in the Sense of Specialist Programs
   2.4 Point-of-view Documentaries in the Sense of Advocacy
   2.5 Participation of CBC Journalists in Point-of-view Documentaries

APPENDIX B - RELATED CBC POLICIES

1. Broadcasts of National Importance
2. Programming Not Eligible for Commercial Content
   2.1 Areas Without Any Commercial Content
   2.1.1 Radio Programming
   2.1.2 TV Program Categories
   2.2 Where Commercial Content is Restricted
   
3. Commercial Impact
   3.1 Introduction
   3.2 Responsibility
   3.3 Specific Cases
   3.3.1 Consumer Programming
   3.3.2 Sponsor Identification in Program Title
   3.3.3 Entertainment Features and Profiles
   3.3.4 Free Program Materials
   3.3.5 Credits and Free Publicity
   3.3.6. Product Placement
   3.4 Commissioned or Purchased Programs
   3.5 Additional Reference
   
4. Guidelines on Sex-Role Portrayal
   4.1 Principle
   4.2 Purpose
   4.3 Application
   4.4 Administration
   4.5 Interpretation
   4.6 Guidelines
   4.6.1 Presence
   4.6.2 Diversity
   4.6.3 Stereotypes
   4.6.4 Roles
   4.6.5 Balance
   4.6.6 Sexuality
   4.6.7 Language
   4.6.7.1 Application of Program Policies - Portrayal of Women in Programming
   4.6.7.2 Language Guidelines
   
6. Outside Requests for CBC Broadcast Material
   6.1 Preamble
   6.2 Policy
   6.3 Responsibility
   
7. Free Time Political Broadcasts
   7.1 Preamble
   7.2 General Principles
   7.3 Policy Statements