Notice of March 18, 2003 to all television and radio services on the conflict in the Middle East

Having regard to Law No. 86-1067 of September 30, 1986, as amended, on freedom of communication, in particular Articles¹, 13 and 15;

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

The imminence of military intervention in the Middle East requires all television and radio services to be particularly vigilant in exercising their editorial responsibility.

In this difficult context, the French Superior Audiovisual Council summons the attention of operators to the need :

- check the accuracy of the information they show, or, in the event of uncertainty, 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 documents that are difficult to bear are not exploited in a self-indulgent manner;

- not to show any material contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war;

- to treat with the necessary balance and rigor any subjects likely to fuel tensions and antagonisms within the population, or to provoke attitudes of rejection or xenophobia towards certain communities or countries.

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