But, for several years now individual companies and categories of newspapers have been publishing their own charters. This is not just a question of fashion.

The requirements of professional conduct are inten¬si¬fying. Moreover, there is a need for coherence in the general principles applicable to the profession and the specific end-purpose of each company.

In most cases, only journalists adhere to the general charters (The French unions criticize the Federation of the Press for not having included the charter of 1918-38 in the collective agreement).

There is no official body to ensure that these charters are respected. A majority of the profession does not want the establishment of such a body.

The professional code of a company is binding on all the employees, at all levels of responsibility, of that company.

2 – The existence of a professional code seems necessary for the functions of the “médiateur”  . He may give his opinion based on his personal experience, on his common sense, his impartiality. It is better for him to give his opinion based on the professional code of a company, that the public may be aware of.

3 – A professional code is required for RFI:

• because of its specific task as a French radio, broadcasting to foreign countries.
• because of the special working conditions of its special envoys and correspondents. Reference to a text can be a protection (probably relative, but not negligible) in a certain number of countries.

4 – An RFI professional code may encourage other audiovisual companies to have one of their own and be an example for them.

5 – This exemplary phenomenon may also be important in the countries towards which RFI broadcasts, especially those where there is a lack of liberty and professional standards. RFI leads in the use of advanced technology. This is a field in which a new code of professional conduct will have to be prepared.

The RFI Charter

Although the following takes into account the principles of professional conduct of the press, it is applicable not only to journalists, but also to all those who have a direct or indirect editorial responsibility in news broadcasts, programming, magazines, in all sound, visual or written documents. It is also binding on those who have a technical responsibility in the fields of production and broadcasting.

This implies both a requirement of quality and recognition of the value of the work done.

Eventually, it is the whole personnel who are or should feel involved, because each function converges towards a common goal whose achievement depends on the competence and professional conscience of each one of them.

This code refers to several series of texts or has been inspired by them.

• The great historic charters proclaim, among other  human rights, freedom of opinion, of expression and of information (Declaration of Human Rights and Rights of the Citizen of 1789, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, European Convention on the Preservation of Human Rights of 1950, International Pact on Civilian and Political rights of 1966).
• Professional texts: the French Charter of 1918, modified in 1938, the European Declaration on the Duties and Rights of journalists of 1971.
• The National Collective Agreement for the press sector.
• The Schedule of missions and responsibilities of RFI.

This charter deals with professional conduct.

It implies a moral undertaking: the Labour Code and the collective agreement being the references in terms of Law and Discipline.

It deals mainly with obligations: fulfilling these obligations bestow the rights, subject matter of the European Declaration of 1971. This lays stress, especially on material and moral security and on economic independence.

1 – General Principles

Freedom and responsibility are two complementary and inseparable key words used when one wants to define the tasks of those who, journalists or non-journalists, address the public through the press, radio, television and the new media.

These words are included in all national and international codes and charters for journalists and in the important texts on human rights which proclaim freedom of expression in all its forms: especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the International Pact on Civilian and Political Rights and the European Convention on the Preservation of Human Rights.

The right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers was added to the freedom to voice one’s opinion proclaimed in 1789. This freedom includes special obligations and special responsibilities (International Pact). It is in the name of these obligations and these responsibilities that restrictions may be envisaged. But, when they are evoked, it is specified that they must be explicitly defined by Law and that, like all other basic freedoms, they must meet the requirements of a democratic society. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 29).

It is within the framework of these principles, set forth in the Declarations and Pacts adopted by most countries, that journalists, in France and in other countries, producers, anchors,  directors and technicians, who have a responsibility in all that happens on the air and, above all, all that is broadcast by RFI, exercise, or should exercise, their profession.

From these principles and tradition – quite old in case of the written press, recent for the audiovisual sector – flow a certain number of guidelines accepted by media professionals as a whole that we can gather and summarize within one word, respect.

Respect for the accuracy of facts

The right to look for information and to disseminate it is also an obligation. This is the first mission of the media. This mission, and the manner in which it is accomplished, is the source of its  legitimacy and its freedom. The texts originating from the Constitutional Council of the French Republic lay more and more stress on the link between the right to inform and the right to information: this right helps all men to comprehend the society and the world in which they live and to act as citizens.

Respecting the accuracy of facts is to apply the principles of honesty and impartiality. Obviously, it implies leaving out lies and being cautious about rumours and approximations.

It also implies:

• Checking and confirming the sources. Irrespective of the requirement of speed, that is ever increasing, no one can be compelled to give out any information if one is not sure that it is accurate.
• Stepping back before a piece of information one has or an event one has witnessed. But stepping back does not necessarily mean delaying.

It is legitimate and necessary to act fast – the RFI editorial staff, as other journalists, can and should have a taste for scoops, if, of course, an accurate and important piece of information is involved. Stepping back is the psychological capacity of keeping one’s self at a distance in relation to the event, of controlling the emotions and reactions it may evoke. It is also the intellectual capacity of handling a subject, based on the competence acquired and knowledge of the file. Competence may thus be considered as the first rule of professional conduct.

• Respecting the meaning of the words, documents that one cites or broadcasts in part.
• Refusing any fakes and, if there is a risk of ambiguity, making it clear that the report has been edited.
• If required, giving the source of the documents.
• On the one hand, respecting the confidentiality of the source and ensuring that one is not manipulated by interested parties

(irrespective of the reasons) divulging a document, while remaining anonymous.

• Separating the narration of facts from their interpretation.
• Avoiding the use of the conditional mode which suggests and insinuates without any certainty.
• Respecting the work of those, special envoys and correspondents, who have been witnesses to the event.
• Correcting any mistakes that may have been made. Preferring dialogue to the legal obligations of the right of reply with those who feel hurt or accused by a news item or a commentary.
• Respecting the facts, that is, also appreciating and perceiving their respective importance. Setting events in an order of priority presupposes both personal and collective competence, dialogue and preoccupation and also a sense of being useful to the public by giving them points of reference in an abundance of information.

Respect for our subjects

The accuracy of facts also implies the truth about the persons we are speaking about. Respecting them means:

• Refraining from insults, of course, from any derogatory statements and even from any useless controversies.
• Not violating the private life, nor the presumption of innocence. These rules may be circumvented only when one is fully convinced that a piece of information, duly checked, is necessary for the listener to behave as a citizen.
• Never saying anything about anyone that you would not dare to tell him to his face.
• Not entrapping the person one is interviewing. Not pushing him/her into saying things he/she may regret later. (This does not exclude freedom during interviews of well-known public figures who are fully responsible for what they say in their declarations).
• Generally speaking, not creating any risk for reprisal against local people.
• Avoiding any generalization or mixing of ideas.
• Remaining vigilant about the risk of using any method that, even without any bad intention, may appear to be discriminatory.
• Trying to understand, and make the public understand, various cultural sensitivities, including those of minorities, in order to better understand their remarks and behaviour.

Respect for our listeners

Respecting those we are addressing implies:

• Knowing, to the maximum possible, the conditions in their country, their traditions, their culture, knowing their expectations from RFI (while taking into account the expectations of different classes of listeners).
• Providing information to the listener in a clear and pedagogical manner, without being condescending.
• Placing one’s own self in the listener’s place: telling him from where one is speaking to him and ask oneself how he receives what one is telling him and what one is making him listen.
• Not trying to generate in him a taste for sensationalism, irrationalism or for voyeurism.
• Not hurting his sensitivity or his convictions without good reason.
• But not remaining silent on any fact because of indulgence, demagogy or for any other reason, that may disturb him. Respecting him is to treat him like one who needs to know the truth and is capable of listening to it.

Irrespective of whether it is the subject or the listener, it is always useful to refer to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that proclaims that men are not only born equal before the Law, but also in their dignity.

Respect for the profession

Respecting one’s profession is to take it up fully and exclusively. That is:

• Not disguising oneself to pass for another person, except under special circumstances – for example to get into a country where it is impossible to enter by any other means. This, however, must be decided upon only after a discussion.
• Not doing anything that resembles, even indirectly, the job of an advertiser.
• Not accepting any gift or gratification of any kind whatsoever that may affect the work of a journalist and the exercise of his critical bent of mind.
• Not participating in any event that, by its nature or because of the remuneration offered, may tarnish the image of the profession, and particularly that of RFI. (On the other hand, a journalist or a RFI anchorman may accept an interview or participate in a debate on condition that what he says is coherent with his forming part of RFI and being certain that he cannot be manipulated, nor be won over).
• Refusing invitation on free trips. These can be accepted only in exceptional cases, only if they are in professional interest and cannot have any influence over the way the event will be treated. No one can accept a mission if this freedom is not guaranteed. Any decisions in this field can only be taken after discussion. The same applies to all joint projects.

Ensure that you do not develop a relationship that may lead to connivance or complicity with the leaders of any government, political party or any organization.

Respecting one’s profession is also to respect the company. That is to say, know its end purpose, be conversant with its articles of association, especially its schedule of missions and responsibilities. It also includes a feeling of comradeship with the other employees of the company, being conscious of the importance of their functions and the value of their work.

Last updated on 24.10.2018. Source: Accountable Journalism