French Superior Audiovisual Council notice of December 7, 2004 on international conflicts and their possible repercussions in France

French Superior Audiovisual Council's notice to all television and radio services on international conflicts and their possible repercussions in France

Having regard to Act no. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication, in particular articles 1, 13 and 15;

After deliberation,
The French Superior Audiovisual Council issues the following notice to all authorized or contracted television and radio services:

The repercussions that certain households of international tension can have in France require particular vigilance in the exercise of editorial responsibility.

In this context, the French Superior Audiovisual Council recommends :
- to check the accuracy of the information shown or, in case of uncertainty, to present it in the conditional tense, quoting its source and date;
- in the event of inaccurate information being shown, to rectify it as quickly as possible and under comparable conditions of exposure;
- to accompany the diffusion of archive images with an explicit and lasting mention on air;
- to ensure that unacceptable material is not exploited in a self-indulgent manner, and that its diffusion is accompanied by a systematic prior warning to the public;
- not to show any material contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war;
- to treat international conflicts likely to fuel tensions and antagonisms within the population, or to provoke attitudes of rejection or xenophobia towards certain communities or countries, with the necessary balance and rigor.

This vigilance must apply to all news programmes relating to such conflicts, and in particular to debate or "free speech" programmes in which guests, viewers or listeners have access to the airwaves.

This notice will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.