He has not met yet, but he is already controversial. The brand new "Media Ethics Council" was founded on Monday, much to the chagrin of many press bosses and journalists' societies. Among its opponents, 19 journalists' societies (SDJ), including those of Figaro , AFP, L'Obs , Point , Médiapart , and Europe 1. But what is it precisely? Wednesday, the program "Culture-Media" Europe 1 has addressed the issue. This council must constitute an independent body of the State, to scrutinize the journalistic practices and to express an opinion on the malfunctions of the press. If he had existed at that time, he could for example have seized the false arrest of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, much relayed by the media. He will, however, have no power of sanction.
Journalists' mistrust of this Council of Professional Conduct comes from the fact that the initiative of such a body is largely supported by the government. On several occasions, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen had also called for the creation of such an organization. The idea, however, does not come only from political parties. "Such advice already exists in 18 European countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, or Canada," said Patrick Eveno, president of the Observatory of Information Ethics, and strong supporter of the new Council, at the microphone of Philippe Vandel. He emphasizes that the idea was not blown only by Emmanuel Macron. "She has been in the profession for a long time, and Francois Hollande had expressed this desire."
"Huge lie"
A statement that makes Etienne Gernelle cringe, boss of the weekly Le Point . "It's a huge lie to say that the president has nothing to do with it," he exclaims at the microphone of Europe 1. For him, this council would reinforce a certain "between-itself" that already reigns between the journalists. "This advice is pure corporatism." The Council is divided into three parts: journalists, publishers / broadcasters, and the public. The Observatory of Information Ethics presents it as a "professional body of self-regulation", which will serve as a mediator or arbiter between the public, the media and editorial offices.
"We have not waited to be in direct contact with our readers!", Opposes Etienne Gernelle. "Every minute, people write to us, by mail, by email, or on social networks, and I say, 'heckle us!' But no one needs a paternalistic advice for that. "
"Space for reflection"
The Council must also be a space for reflection on topics such as misinformation. In particular, it was created to respond to public confidence in the media. This year, the La Croix barometer estimates it at 24%, the lowest figure since the beginning of the survey, in 1987. In practice, the Council will be asked to be seized or to seize cases concerning all media information, whether members of the body or not. On the false news of the arrest of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès for example, "the added value of the Council would have been to go on the [information] path." How did that happen? is it like this way? That's what's interesting, "says Patrick Eveno.
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On several occasions in recent months he has assured that the Council is not a "censorship body" and that it will "never" interfere with editorial decisions. Still, for Etienne Gernelle, the opinion of this Council is "no more interesting than that of each reader".
Defending his project, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, said he wanted to give him "a power of real and recognized symbolic sanction". A track quickly dismissed by the government: the Prime Minister had assured during the summer, during a meeting with representatives of journalists, that the government would not interfere in the Council of ethics. It was out of the question for him to revive existing tensions between the profession and the executive.