According to a recent report, fewer than two out of five Canadians trust information provided by the media. However, there is a Quebec organization devoted to defending the public’s right to quality information — and to protecting freedom of the press.
For over 50 years, the Quebec Press Council has been receiving complaints about journalistic work. Based on its Ethics Guide, the Council analyzes these complaints and makes decisions as to whether or not they are justified.
“Contrary to what some people believe, journalists must follow rules,” Press Council President Pierre-Paul Noreau stated at the outset of an interview on Éducaloi’s Angle Droit radio show. “There’s an Ethics Guide and rules of good practice to ensure that what we produce is of the highest quality. And if these rules aren’t followed, the quality may be lower.”
When asked to explain the loss of public confidence in the media, Mr. Noreau began by pointing to those who, in his view, “believe that the media are the enemy of the people”. He then drew a distinction between the general public, and people who regularly consume information from traditional media.
“If you ask the general public, it’s true that there’s a certain information overload. Some people would rather not know anything and don’t read the news because it’s too depressing, disturbing, and anxiety-provoking. But there are also people who believe it’s important to stay informed, that it helps us to make better decisions and to understand the issues we’re facing. These people have a great deal of confidence in the media.”
Press self-regulation
The Press Council operates through independent self-regulation, rather than following the “controlled self-management” model of professional orders. “We’re wary of regulation,” Mr. Noreau explained, adding that he takes press freedom to heart.
A government may have good intentions and set rules, such as requiring studies in journalism or mandating that a prospective journalist receive mentoring, but governments change,” he added.
Thus, the Press Council is a private, independent, non-profit organization, almost half of whose funding comes from its members — the companies that own newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV networks.
“Our members are the media who pay a fee and risk being reprimanded for their actions. That’s because everyone agrees it’s better to have a system of self-regulation than to have the government come in and say: ‘This is how you have to do things’.”
|
Professional orders Like the Press Council, the mission of professional orders is to protect the public. However, unlike the Press Council, a professional order can control the practice of its profession by its members by requiring specific training, limiting or suspending a person’s right to practice the profession — or even instituting criminal proceedings for illegal practice of the profession. |
Filing a complaint
Would you like to file a complaint about a media outlet or a journalist? The process is simple, according to Mr. Noreau. You just have to complete a form on the Press Council’s website. However, the complaint must relate to an ethical issue.
“Saying ‘I don’t like Patrick Lagacé’s opinion piece’ is not an ethical issue. But if you say there’s bias, discrimination, or incompleteness, that’s a matter of ethics.”
Once a complaint has been filed, a committee assesses its admissibility. If the complaint is found to be admissible, mediation may be offered, but only if the complaint concerns a single complainant and a single media outlet. “If there’s more parties involved, it’s too complicated for mediation”, he explained.
In such cases, or if mediation fails, a file is prepared and submitted to a complaints committee. This committee is made up of journalists, media company representatives, and members of the public.
However, “press owners and journalists are not always on the same wavelength,” Mr. Noreau noted.
Why be a member of the Council?
In 2023, of the 91 complaints the Council received, 53 were forwarded to the complaints committee and resulted in a decision. Mr. Noreau explained that the Council cannot be likened to a civil court, and has no judicial, regulatory, legislative, or coercive powers. Therefore, the only sanction it can impose is a moral one.
However, members of the Council are required to publish decisions concerning them, especially if they are reprimanded.
“I must say that, in newsrooms, when you receive a complaint from the Press Council, it’s very upsetting,” he stated.
And even if a media outlet isn’t a member, the Press Council can still deal with a complaint about it. So, what’s in it for media companies to be members of the Council if it makes no difference in how complaints are dealt with?
“To be a member of the Press Council is to adhere to the highest standards of the media”, according to Mr. Noreau. “It means saying publicly: ’We don’t work in any old way. We respect rules’.”