After three weeks of inactivity on Twitter, CBC / Radio-Canada is finally returning to the social network, considering its presence useful in countering the misinformation circulating there and informing citizens.
“We believe that it is important to resume publications on certain major accounts because it is essential that citizens can still find credible sources of information. And CBC/Radio-Canada is one,” Radio-Canada chief information officer Luce Julien said in a note to readers Tuesday morning.
Thus, publications will resume on Tuesday on the Info accounts of Radio-Canada, CBC News, ICI Première and Radio-Canada Sports.
The public broadcaster says it is aware “of the potential excesses of Twitter and any other social network”, but considers that its presence is necessary, knowing “that part of [son] audience gets information mainly on social networks. »
“Twitter generates very little direct traffic in the Canadian radio ecosystem. However, it remains a platform where information circulates and where politicians, journalists and influential people share news. As a public media, we owe it to ourselves to be active there and to continue to disseminate verified information”, further underlined Luce Julien, specifying that the platform also acts as “a press wire […] And [est] a source of information gathering for [ses] journalists. »
On April 17, CBC / Radio-Canada decided to follow in the footsteps of other public media by suspending its activities on Twitter. A decision taken in response to the appearance of the label “media funded by the government” on the English-language account of the broadcaster, shortly after a request to this effect from Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
According to Twitter policy, a so-called “government-funded” outlet is one where the government “may intervene to varying degrees in editorial content.” This is not the case with CBC / Radio-Canada, which reminds us to be impartial and independent.
When the social network finally removed its controversial labels on April 21, CBC/Radio-Canada had kept its accounts on hiatus, giving itself time to reflect.
No blue hook
The public broadcaster’s return to Twitter will however be without the blue hook. The small symbol that distinguished verified accounts from others became payable on April 21, at a cost of US$8 per month. However, it is out of the question for CBC / Radio-Canada to pay to get it again.
“As you just have to pay for it, it is no longer a guarantee of credibility. We believe that our brand has more weight than an artificial label and that this expense is not justified by the public interest,” said Luce Julien.
The public broadcaster also recommends to its journalists to imitate it and not to pay for the blue hook, although “the final decision belongs to them” with regard to their account.