The Quebec Press Council maintains complaints of incomplete information, lack of balance and appearance of conflict of interest, particularly with regard to the daily newspaper The Press and 98.5 FM (Cogeco Media), as part of reports on allegations of sexual misconduct targeting comedian Julien Lacroix. In an appeal decision published Thursday, the “court of honor” of journalism considers that ethical principles were correctly applied in its first instance decision.
In November 2023, the Council blamed journalists Isabelle Hachey and Marie-Ève Tremblay, as well as the daily The Press and the radio station 98.5 FM, for reports on the two years of the Julien Lacroix affair. The journalists notably questioned the investigative work of Améli Pineda, journalist at Dutywhich brought to light the acts of assault and sexual misconduct accused of the comedian.
In response to these reports, Mme Pineda filed a complaint with the Press Council. The Press appealed the three grievances upheld by the Council last January.
Members of the appeals commission of the media self-regulatory organization were to determine whether The Press provided evidence demonstrating that the complaints committee misapplied ethical principles in upholding the grievances. In a unanimous verdict, they consider that the related articles of the Guide to journalistic ethics from the Quebec Press Council were applied correctly and, therefore, uphold the decision rendered at first instance.
Back to the facts
In July 2020, The duty published an investigation entitled “Julien Lacroix targeted by allegations of sexual assault and misconduct”, in which journalist Améli Pineda reported the testimonies of nine women – some of whom spoke anonymously – who denounced inappropriate acts of sexual nature committed by the comedian.
In November 2022, the daily The Press, written by Isabelle Hachey, published an article entitled “The Julien Lacroix affair, two years later: scars and regrets”. The investigation was carried out jointly with Marie-Ève Tremblay, journalist at 98.5 FM, who broadcast the podcast in four episodes The Julien Lacroix affair, two years later the same day. Journalists reported that women regretted having denounced the comedian.
In reaction to these reports, journalist Améli Pineda and a citizen filed a complaint with the Press Council. The latter upheld a grievance for incomplete information and another for lack of balance, for which he blamed journalists Hachey and Tremblay, as well as the two media entities.
However, it unanimously rejected the five other complaints of incomplete information filed, as well as the complaints of inaccurate information and bias.
The Council, on the other hand, upheld a grievance for the appearance of a conflict of interest against Marie-Ève Tremblay, blaming the latter, The Press and 98.5 FM.
Alone The Press appealed the grievances.
“The file is closed”
“I am satisfied with the unanimous decision of the Press Council which highlights for a second time significant failings in the approach of Isabelle Hachey and Marie-Ève Tremblay, who deviated from several principles of the Ethics guide », Said Améli Pineda after learning of the appeal decision.
“It is unfortunate that so many resources have been spent on self-justification rather than simply making amends,” she adds. In the end, it is the public who has been misled and it is they who are the losers in this whole process. As I said following the first decision, this complaint was never intended to personalize the debate, but rather to ensure compliance with the ethical standards that govern the profession of journalism. »
“This second decision favorable to Duty reinforces our conviction that journalists from The Press and Cogeco Nouvelles could have done better in their approach, believes the director of Duty, Brian Myles. The decisions of the Press Council serve as an ethical compass and we hope that it will guide the way towards continuous improvement of practices. »
Joined by The duty Thursday, the vice president for information and deputy publisher of The Press, François Cardinal, said he took note of the decision of the Quebec Press Council. “We remain convinced of the rigor of the journalistic approach of our journalist and of The Press. We maintain that this was consistent with well-established journalistic standards and practices and that the Press Council creates dangerous precedents which will undermine the ability of all Quebec journalists to carry out and publish investigations on subjects of public interest. . »
In its appeal decision, the Press Council “recalls that the decisions of the appeal commission are final. Therefore, in accordance with the rules of procedure, this case is closed.”
With Florence Morin-Martel