CBC News and Radio-Canada info receive JTI certificate for trustworthy journalism launched by RSF

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and CBC/Radio-Canada today announced that the national public broadcaster’s news services are the first Canadian broadcast media to be awarded Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification. In external audits, both CBC News and Radio-Canada Info earned the highest rating for meeting or exceeding the international standard on which the JTI is based.

JTI scrutinizes a news service’s transparency and editorial practices and makes its compliance visible to users. It was launched by RSF and its partners in 2018 to combat disinformation and promote trustworthy journalism.

To get certified, CBC/Radio-Canada assessed its news services’ practices and policies, including its Journalistic Standards and Practices, against the JTI standard. Each service then published a Transparency Report, which was independently audited. In its assessments, auditor Deloitte awarded CBC News and Radio-Canada Info top marks across the board, including in key areas such as accountability for journalism principles, accuracy and responsibility for sources.

“We’re proud of these certifications from Reporters Without Borders, which attest to the quality, rigor and independence of our journalism. As disinformation proliferates, international norms like the Journalism Trust Initiative make it unequivocally clear that Canadians can count on CBC/Radio-Canada for trusted news.”

– Catherine Tait, President and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada

“The JTI Certification of CBC/Radio-Canada underpins the remit of public service media to lead by example, when it comes to the rigor of professional methods, ethics and transparency. The effort that went into this achievement, but also into living up to the JTI Standard in newsrooms around the world every day, deserves praise and we are certain that it will be rewarded by audiences near and far.”

– Christophe Deloire, Secretary General, RSF

CBC/Radio-Canada’s JTI Certificates are available here:

• CBC News
• Radio-Canada Info

The Winnipeg Free Press, France Télévisions, and swissinfo.ch (a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation) are among other media fully certified by the JTI. More information is available on the Journalism Trust Initiative website. 

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is a non-profit organisation that promotes journalistic freedom, pluralism and independence. This includes defending those who embody these ideals. RSF provides information about the media freedom situation throughout the world and provides journalists with concrete support by means of campaigns, advocacy, litigation, legal aid and material assistance. RSF has also launched initiatives designed to promote the right to reliable news and information, especially in the digital domain. As well as its headquarters in Paris, RSF has bureaus and sections in 14 cities in the world. The organisation relies on a network of correspondents in 130 countries and 15 local NGOs that are RSF partners.

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