In a tribune published in Le Monde, Laure Darcos and Nathalie Loiseau, leaders from Horizons, denounce the bad faith in debates over media labeling and attacks on public broadcasting. They emphasize that in the digital age, safeguarding verified information is vital against the rapid spread of fake news. They back an independent certification to identify reliable media without state interference.
In the digital era, information spreads at an unprecedented speed, boosting access to knowledge but also enabling the massive spread of rumors, manipulations, and deceptive content. Safeguarding verified and sourced information has become a critical issue for citizens, media outlets, institutions, and online platforms.
Emmanuel Macron's mention of media labeling has triggered strong backlash, with critics fearing a 'ministry of truth' where the state would separate good media from bad. Laure Darcos and Nathalie Loiseau firmly oppose any political meddling, stressing that press freedom is essential to democracy.
They endorse the 'Journalism Trust Initiative' (JTI), led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which has been adopted by over 2,000 media outlets in 119 countries. This certification process, conducted by independent external auditors, assesses ethics, editorial independence, source protection, funding transparency, governance autonomy, and legal structures of media organizations. It evaluates the media entities producing the information, not the content itself.
Amid widespread disinformation where anyone can pose as a journalist, the authors argue that no professional media should resist highlighting rigorous, verified reporting. They draw parallels to trusting only qualified doctors for health care or licensed pilots for flying: information demands the same rigor to ensure everyone's democratic survival.
