A Point on Point of View

I want to add a bit to a post I wrote last year on opinion and analysis at CBC News, and point to another way we demonstrate accountability.

Our Journalistic Standards and Practices lays out pretty clearly how we feel on opinion:

Our programs and platforms allow for the expression of a particular perspective or point of view. This content adds public understanding and debate on the issues of the day.

When presenting content (programs, program segments, or digital content) where a single opinion or point of view is featured, we ensure that a diversity of perspective is provided across a network or platform and in an appropriate time frame.

When we choose to present a single point of view:

• it is clearly labeled, and
• it does not misrepresent other points of view.

Our value of impartiality precludes our news and current affairs staff from expressing their personal opinions on matters of controversy on all our platforms.

What that means is when our journalists do analysis on the air or online, we insist they root their arguments in facts, not personal preference. They're people, of course, and they draw conclusions like anyone else. But "gut instinct" on a subject doesn't cut it.

It also means that when we do give a platform for commentary, such as we do with Rex Murphy on The National, we have an obligation to be crystal clear with the audience that this is one person's point of view.

Earlier this week, one viewer wrote us to say we haven't been doing that. And it turns out, he was right.

The graphic look around Rex's commentaries used to include the words "Point of View". But when we redesigned the look back in 2009, we removed those words.

Ever since, we have used that phrase repeatedly when we refer to Rex in the program. But we haven't done it every time. And even though we're pretty sure the vast majority of our audience knows Rex, and understands that what he's doing on The National is pure (and insightful) commentary, our viewer was correct that we were not living up to the letter of our own standards.
So we fixed it. We've changed our graphic look to re-insert the words "Point of View". And if you're watching closely, you'll see it on The National.

It's a small detail, yes. But we accept that details matter when it comes to transparency and accountability with the audience. And that's not opinion - it's a fact.