CEVA Solution and ICPF, ISO-17065-accredited auditing firms, can now audit news media in France, Belgium and Switzerland in order to deliver Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification – a tool initiated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) to promote reliable journalism.
The international network of auditors able to certify media outlets to the JTI standard is expanding. CEVA Solution and ICPF have joined the ten auditors accredited to audit the media in their efforts to achieve transparency and professionalize their processes for producing reliable information.
These audit firms operate in France, Belgium and Switzerland, where 120 media outlets have already committed to the JTI process. Of these, around fifty are at the audit stage.
In the JTI certification process initiated by RSF, auditors can be called upon following an initial self-assessment by the media themselves, and the publication of a transparency report on their practices.
Following this stage, the French, Belgian and Swiss media can now commission CEVA Solution and ICPF to carry out an independent audit, which will award them JTI certification for two years.
“In France, about thirty media outlets are already JTI-certified, directly or via their group, including TV channels belonging to the TF1, France Télévisions and France Médias Monde groups, and titles from the EBRA press group. We’re delighted to welcome two new auditing firms that complement each other to provide a certification offer that reflects the diversity of media profiles in France.” Benjamin Sabbah, Journalism Trust Initiative Director
Mindful that each new expense adds to a difficult economic equation for many media outlets, promoting the democratization of access to Journalism Trust Initiative certification has been a crucial issue for RSF since the launch of the standard. By partnering with two new certification firms, CEVA Solution and ICPF, and their networks of auditors, RSF is bringing together a range of certification services in line with the diversity of media sizes and business models.
“Transparency, ethics and ‘best practices’ are now promoted thanks to the Journalism Trust Initiative certification. CEVA SOLUTION was eager to be one of the certification organizations involved in this project. We are proud to be working with RSF to promote JTI.” – Monique Favre, CEVA Solution Director of Operations
“The ICPF teams, with the support of RSF, are prepared to support the development of the JTI certification in France starting immediately. In particular, by empowering as many newsrooms as possible to engage in an independent audit process, and giving them greater visibility and recognition as reliable media.” – Vincent Capoën, ICPF Managing Director
To strengthen the right to reliable information and fight misinformation, JTI was designed as a set of editorial best practices applicable to all kinds of players in the information sector: print media, TV channels, radio stations, online media and press agencies. Endorsed by media associations and agencies, and promoted by legislators, the JTI standard is included in the recommendations of France’s États généraux de l’information.
