JTI

The Media Outlet has been independently certified according to the JTI Programme and CWA 17493:2019.

Alliance for Audited Media – Northern America

Certified by

Alliance for Audited Media – Northern America

Date of certification

13/09/2024

Contact details

1600 McConnor Parkway
60173 Schaumburg
United States of America

Media Outlet CBC News Legal Entity CBC/Radio-Canada Date of first publication 13/09/2024 Date of Latest Change 13/09/2024

16. Professionalism in the Media Outlet

16.1. Recruitment and Training

There shall be professional guidelines for the recruitment and training of editorial staff. This includes responsibilities for implementing diversity policy and staff welfare. Recruitment policy, (use of open competition etc.) and staff welfare principles should be publicly available.

Do you have guidelines for the recruitment and training of editorial staff?

Yes

Do those guidelines contain a diversity policy?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Link to diversity policy: https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/working-with-us/jobs/diversity-inclusion-cbc-rc

Do those guidelines cover staff welfare?

Yes

Are they publicly available?

Yes

What is the URL?

Diversity and inclusion: https://cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/impact-and-accountability/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-and-inclusion-plan CBC Code of conduct: https://site-cbc.radio-canada.ca/media/2877/code-conduct-en.pdf

16.2. Working Conditions, Contract Policy and Labour Relations

Journalistic principles and practice should be supported by the organisational environment including protection for journalistic integrity through adherence to labour laws and regulations, transparency of contract policy and freedom to organise. The duration or nature of the contract should not inhibit a journalist from operating in an ethical manner and the organisation structure should protect that principle.

Do the regulations and guidelines for the employment of staff and engagement of contract journalists protect their editorial independence?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

On journalism independence: https://www.cbc.ca/news/editorsblog/safeguarding-independence-cbc-editors-blog-1.7177574

Collective agreement with our union that employs our journalists/production staff. Note a new agreement has been ratified for 2027 but based on this core agreement

https://cmg.ca/cbc-radio-canada-collective-agreement-2019-2024/

Of note in that doc you will find language related to freelancers and contributors. And for independence the union / CMG has editorial independence enshrined in our agreement with them - look for a section on Producer’s Authority.

Are your employees (including freelance) covered by legal contracts and insurance?

Yes

Does your staff have the freedom to organise?

Yes

Do you have an existing structure for social dialogue including a collective bargaining arrangement with appropriate trade unions?

Yes

Are there guidelines for contracts of engagement with freelance journalists?

Yes

Do these guidelines ensure the ability of freelancers to adhere to the editorial principles?

Yes

16.3. Staff Welfare

Responsibility for the welfare of staff and those contracted on a freelance basis should be an important part of a Media Outlet’s role. Organisational Editorial Guidelines should be protective against any form of discrimination and supportive of equality of opportunity. It should ensure safety at work and in the working environment (including remote and online) and have guidelines, which support staff who have been exposed to material of a sensitive or upsetting nature or have suffered physical or psychological harm in the course of their work.

Does your Media Outlet's rules and procedures protect against discrimination in the workplace?

Yes

Does your Media Outlet's rules and procedures support equality of opportunity?

Yes

Does your Media Outlet have a safety at work policy, which includes specific protection for journalists working in hostile environments?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Team safety is our number one priority!
During 2021, hostilities and harassment towards CBC employees have continued to increase. To address this rise in violence, "The Corporate Security Team" has mobilized to support all groups in their plans to mitigate the risk of threats and harassment.

Various measures and tools have been put in place to protect all teams, before, during and after their mission:


Preparing for an assignment

Before any deployment, teams/crews are encouraged to review the generic risk assessments for News Field Safety, and work with their producer to implement the suggested mitigation measures in the most effective manner possible. All crews/teams should have, as a minimum, a check-in plan, a medical and evacuation plan, and an understanding of their risk appetite/tolerance.

Training and Education (online)

Domestic News Safety Training / Formation couvertures à risque au Canada

Graphic Exposure : Managing the Challenge

Physical Security Awareness

Cybersecurity / Information Security

Psychological Safety

Hostile Environment Awareness training (HEAT) (in person)

Risk Assessments

Generic Risk Assessment for News Crews

Active Shooter / Manhunt / Standoff with Barricaded Person(s)

Demonstration, Protest or Riot

Harassment, Intimidation and Violence During News Coverage of Public Events

Meeting with a Potentially Aggressive Person

Field security : Assessing Risk

Personal safety tips

Various procedures and tools

Procedures for requesting and obtaining physical security resources

Helpful guideline for physical security awareness

How to book VIP security

Handling challenging comments

Escalation procedures

Incidents involving members of the public

General awareness articles on iO

Physical security : Best practices within our workplaces

Physical Security : In our buildings

Working at night

Emergency preparedness & response

Reporting an incident



Resources during an assignment

Planning before an assignment provides access to tools and resources that can keep staff safe if issues arise.

Active monitoring via ZeroFox

Appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment)

Demonstration Kits (respirators, helmets, eye/ear protection)

Ballistic vests / soft body armour

Crisis Messenger App

Security agents/Field safety advisors

Security plan, based on the risk assessment


After an assignment

Depending on the type of threat or event, we have a number of tools to help mitigate risks and support staff. Here are some examples:

Redirect unwanted communications to the Security Threat Group to monitor for escalation;

Issue Trespass Notices (TPA) by ways of Unauthorized ID Sheets to on site security staff

Informal Cease & Desist requests from Corporate Security;

Use of buddy system while circulating in public areas of the building/on work assignment;

Taxi services to/from place of work to residence;

Support via EAP services;

Deployment of Social Media Monitoring Tool (blocking subject from social media accounts);

Preservation of all correspondence, footage as evidence;

File a police report (support provided by R&S)

Conduct a Personal Risk Assessment (personal safety recommendations);

Deploy the Crisis 24 app on mobile phone;

Open Source investigation;

Deployment of security agents to future assignments of a similar nature;

Personal Safety Tips



Does your Media Outlet have guidelines to support editorial staff who have been exposed to material of a sensitive or upsetting nature?

Yes

Does your Media Outlet have guidelines to support editorial staff who suffered physical or psychological harm in the course of their work?

Yes