Media format : Télévision, Internet
Geographical distribution area : Internationale
Geographical area : France
Website : www.france24.com
Country : France
Address : 5 rue des Nations Unies, 92445 Issy-les-Moulineaux
Created : 2006
Owner : France Médias Monde
Status : France 24 is a secondary establishment of the FMM limited company
CEO : Marie Christine Saragosse
Channel director : Marc Saikali
Deputy Director in charge of the Arab language channel : Mansour Tiss
Deputy Director in charge of the French language channel : Benoit Laporte
Deputy Director in charge of the English language channel : Françoise Champey-Huston
Deputy Director in charge of image, magazines and reportages : Loick Berrou
Mediator : Jean-Pierre Constantin
Turnover : Not provided
Total staff : 910 collaborators
Broadcasting : 24h/24 and 7/7 in 222 million homes on 5 continents
Production unit : Issy-les-Moulineaux
Advertising agency : France Télévisions Publicité Internationale
The channel was launched in December 2006, in French and English 24/24, 7/7.
The Arabic channel was launched in 2007, initially for 4 hours a day. This increased to 10 hours in 2008 and to 24 hours in 2010.
France 24 joined « Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France » in January 2009.
A legal merger in February 2012 brought together the various bodies that made up Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France.
In June 2013 Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France became « France Médias Monde ».
In 2014, the first « contract of objectives and means » (COM) has been signed between the State and France Médias Monde.
1.1. – Internal Code or charter? : Yes
1.2. – How is their application monitored? : Informally
France 24 is an international channel showing continuous news, broadcasting 24/24 and 7/7 in 222 million homes on five continents in French, Arabic and English. The editorial office of France 24 in Paris provides a French view of the world and uses a network of hundreds of correspondents covering most of the globe.
The channel aims to exercise journalism that respects traditional methods and fundamental values – rigour, objectivity and independence in relation to powerful authorities, even financial.
The implementation of these methods and values, however, has not been formalised.
2.1. – Journalist associations inside the media? : Yes
2.2. – What mechanisms are there to evaluate already published material? : These are continual
Debriefings are held continuously with lots of exchange outside the editorial meetings.
The director of the channel and his deputies can also organise a one-off debriefing after a special broadcast.
2.3. – Which systems are in place to identify and correct errors? Fact checking? : Language checkers
There is no fact-checking department. Each subject is looked at and then validated by a section head before it is broadcast.
The Arabic section uses language checkers.
3.1. – What is the relationship between editorial values and advertising content? : Not always easy
There is no promotion of political parties. Even if France 24 agrees to show tourist advertisements for dictatorship countries, it does not flinch from broadcasting reports about their authoritarian power or their opponents.
The editorial office pays careful attention to anything that could be hidden advertising, such as regattas where sponsors are shown on boat sails.
Infomercials are clearly indicated on the website by the use of a different template.
3.2. – What arbitration systems are in place for disputes? : The editorial head
3.3. – What is the structure for sponsorships and editorial partnerships? : There is a specific contract
Sponsorship has to comply with decree n°92-280, dated 27 March 1992, under the following conditions:
1. Political news programmes, political debates and news programmes cannot be sponsored;
2. Programmes about health cannot be sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and organisations targeted in articles L. 5124-1 to L. 5124-18 of the public health code.
4.1. – How are press trips and embedded journalists managed? : These are accepted but not made public
France 24 refuses to cover – for a fee – the trip of a foreign president.
The editorial office is very attentive to the identity and status of people who offer to receive journalists.
4.2. – How are conflicts of interests with the owner resolved? : Not applicable
4.3. – How are political and economic pressures managed? : Via the hierarchy
4.4. – How is general news or “news in brief” treated? : According to all cultures
As an international channel, France 24 covers little general ’news in brief’
4.5. – What criteria are there for the publication of photos/ transmission of filmed images? : According to the country in which it is broadcast
Each case is different. The head of a channel can refuse images because they are violent.
On the other hand, pictures considered banal and normal on French and English channels may be considered shocking in the Arab-speaking world. Most of the images on the website come from Agence France Presse. France 24 does not use Google Images unless we have access to the source material.
France 24 can resize an image but not crop it and extract an image from a video but not retouch it.
Photomontages are forbidden except to place two people side by side in the same frame.
4.6. – How are amateur photos or videos treated? : The principle of observers
France 24 has a team of observers who look for amateur documents. They supply content to channels and websites and also have a weekly programme. The content is sent by the network of observers or found on social networks.
By collaborating with them over a long period and expecting them to be there on the spot, we are working to improve the reliability of these observers.
From a more technical point of view, France 24 analyses the metadata of images (camera used, time of the shot, GPS coordinates). If any of these have been altered we know the picture has been retouched.
In terms of the way it is treated, the editing will respect the initial document and wrap the text. The light can be adjusted and infographics used to circle or highlight details. The original image can be augmented with the words of witnesses, added by the editorial team.
4.7. – What is the status of permanent or freelance journalist blogs? : Supported but not proofread
Blogs have to remain a free area. Some are written by France 24 journalists, others by external contributors (experts from third-party organisations or observers). Bloggers are assisted by a team leader who will explain what is expected of them, support them and guide them. But their posts are not reviewed by an editorial head as the content of the website is.
4.8. – What are the conditions for working undercover? : If there is no other option
France 24 does not authorise this practice except in countries where reporting openly is not possible. In a democratic context, experienced journalists might need to use a hidden camera for certain types of subjects.
5.1. – What form of mediation is there with the public? Is there an ombudsman? : Yes
France 24 has a mediator who is a member of France Médias Monde.
5.2. – Is there a section for public comments? : No
5.3. – How is the ‘right of reply’ managed? : Case by case
5.4. – How are public visits organised? : Yes
The chanel does not have open days but visits can be made on request.
5.5. – Are there organised meetings with the public? : Occasionally
Members of the editorial team may take part in debates when they are asked to.
If the channel broadcasts a debate, viewers can ask questions via a Facebook page.
5.6. – Are journalist contact details made public? : No
5.7. – How are internet forums managed? : These are post-moderated at two levels
There is no forum but comments can be posted.
There are two post-moderation levels at France 24. The first is carried out by an external company and is not concerned with the meaning of the messages but filters out insulting content or incitements to racial hatred. The second level involves the website editor-in-chief, the journalists who have written the article and the editorial secretaries. Internet users have an alert button and can also send a message to signal inappropriate content. These are then partially or completely deleted and the author informed.
For controversial subject, e.g. inter-ethnic conflicts, no commentary is possible.
The external company post-moderates social networks and they have two community managers, one for French and English, the other for Arabic.
6.2. – How sustainable are the infrastructure and logistics? : Yes
The building was chosen, among other reasons, because it is easily accessible by public transport.
The air conditioning system is centrally controlled. The communal areas have presence detectors and the electricity automatically cuts out when the department is unoccupied at certain times of the day. A small poster campaign was launched to encourage five eco-friendly gestures: turn off the lights, turn off computers, turn off the taps, close the doors and do not open windows.
As far as recycling is concerned, there is an area for the restaurant waste and another for ordinary waste like paper, cups, cans and cardboard boxes.
Printer toner cartridges and neon lights are recycled.
Printer paper is certified with the Ecolabel.
Cleaning products are chosen from the green product lines.
Up to 80% of the mass of the material from used furniture is recycled at the end of its life. The supplier comes to the site to change damaged parts.
The canteen offers organic produce.
6.3. – Are suppliers selected according to sustainable criteria? : Information not provided
6.4. – Is there sustainable management of film materials? : In progress
France 24 has chosen to use light film cameras which function with memory cards and so do not use disposable material.
7.1. – What initiatives are there for developing media literacy? : When requested
France 24 responds to all requests from teachers and has already participated in the schools’ press week.
7.2. – Is support provided for media in emerging countries? : There is support for media in emerging countries
The France 24-RFI-MCD Academy was created in April 2011.
Three months after the Arab revolution, training staff from France 24 and RFI went to Tunisia for three weeks to provide training in the profession. The Academy also assisted in the restructuring of TV and radio in the Ivory Coast (RTI) in 2012 when democracy returned following the 2011 election. France 24 is currently contributing towards the privatisation of the audio-visual landscape in Algeria and is helping to create the El Khabar channel.
These programmes provide an excellent opportunity for TV, radio and multimedia journalists to step back from the pressure of producing continuous news and think about what they do by exchanging ideas with their fellow-members in emerging countries.
The Academy has also signed an agreement with CFI (Canal France International) to join their publicly funded co-operative programme for media in the South.
Also, the material used at France 24 is still new – the age of the channel itself. If material has to be replaced, older film cameras are given to non-profit associations that work with emerging countries.
For every project, the channel looks for external financing.
8.1. – What commitments are there for continuous training? : Varied
The channel would like to follow through programmes begun with all the managers in 2011 and 2012 to standardise management methods and reinforce mentor managerial skills. In future, training is also offered within a programme put in place for the prevention of psycho-social risk.
The management ensures that regulations regarding hygiene, safety and quality of life are adhered to. Training courses are therefore provided for staff members who have irregular work routines or work in dangerous situations, and there is also training in First Aid.
Team professionalism for all departments is developed by maintaining within each management department the skills necessary for the sector of activity.
The development of a tutoring programme at France 24 has led to training tutors for salaried staff particularly in the context of the collective agreement for senior staff (collective agreement of 21 April 2010).
These staff members welcome new personnel – newly recruited, internally moved, or arriving through a continuous training contract.
The development of language skills is also part of these commitments.
8.2. – Is there pay transparency? : Information not provided
8.3. – Is there an apprenticeship tax? : A clear distribution
30% of the tax goes to recognised journalism schools.
28% goes to schools for audio-visual technical professions (INA, Studio Ecole de France, etc.)
16% goes to business and communication schools
5% goes to management schools (HR, finance, etc.)
21% goes to middle schools and high schools situated in difficult areas or for disabled students.
9.1. – How is corporate social responsibility applied? : From the point of view of diversity and the fight against discrimination
France 24 signed the diversity charter in April 2013 and is committed to the fight against all forms of discrimination. This is an editorial commitment and France 24 is a responsible media organisation, an active partner for equality, diversity and in raising awareness against discrimination. The programmes cover these themes, either through debates, exchange of ideas and reflections coming from all the five continents, but also through programmes about world culture, issues of equality and sustainable development - all the challenges of development and diversity in our world without borders.