Carta editoriale allegata al contratto con l’Unione Europea

I. Carta editoriale allegata al contratto con l’Unione Europea

 

1. DISPOSIZIONI GENERALI

Nell’ambito dei “Servizi UE” che il contraente s’impegna ad eseguire in base al presente Contratto, egli è tenuto a non assoggettarsi ad alcuna istruzione, pressione o richiesta proveniente da qualsiasi Istituzione o Stato membro dell’UE, o da qualsiasi altra Istituzione o Stato, a qualsivoglia proposito.

 

Definizioni:

“Istituzioni UE”
Indica tutte le Istituzioni dell’Unione europea istituite in base ai Trattati.
“Servizi UE”
Indica tutti i servizi e i programmi forniti nel quadro del presente Contratto che trattano questioni di rilevanza dell’Unione europea.

 

2. CONTENUTO DEI PROGRAMMI

2.1. Con riserva delle disposizioni contenute nell’articolo 4, il contraente s’impegna a fornire, in qualsiasi momento, Servizi UE corrispondenti ai massimi standard (in particolare per quanto concerne il contenuto, la qualità e l’integrità editoriale). Inoltre, il contraente s’impegna a proporre un’ampia scelta di temi trattati (in termini non solo di programmi in generale, ma anche dei giorni della settimana e delle ore di trasmissione dei programmi stessi), allo scopo di soddisfare le esigenze e gli interessi del pubblico, in conformità con le disposizioni di cui all’articolo 2.2.

2.2. Le disposizioni dell’articolo sanciscono che i Servizi UE devono :

  1. puntare a selezionare, verificare e diffondere l’informazione relativa all’UE ;
  2. sostenere e riflettere la diversità culturale dell’UE ;
  3. offrire una copertura globale, ambiziosa e imparziale dei temi d’attualità all’interno della UE e nel mondo – quando presentano una dimensione europea – e rendere conto dei dibattiti a livello regionale, nazionale e comunitario ;
  4. proporre programmi di confronto e di approfondimento ;
  5. includere programmi dedicati all’impatto – sulla vita dei cittadini dell’Unione europea – delle azioni, delle decisioni e delle politiche UE e rendere conto delle preoccupazioni del pubblico tanto regionale quanto nazionale.

2.3. Il contraente s’impegna a presentare un resoconto imparziale, che sarà elaborato o commentato da giornalisti professionisti, dell’attualità del Parlamento europeo, del Consiglio dei ministri della UE, dei Consigli europei, della Commissione europea e di qualsiasi altra istituzione o organo europeo.

 

3. OBIETTIVI DEI SERVIZI UE

Il contraente s’impegna a:

3.1. Pubblicare sul suo sito Internet una dichiarazione annuale degli impegni assunti nei confronti dei telespettatori – con la descrizione dei servizi UE, delle norme e degli obiettivi – rendendola accessibile a chiunque desideri consultarla ;

3.2. Formulare un commento con le opportune precisazioni sull’esecuzione del Contratto da annettere alla relazione annuale presentata in conformità alle disposizioni stipulate nel Contratto e pubblicare nel sito Internet una sintesi che illustri come :

  1. Il contraente si è attenuto agli obiettivi e alle norme fissate in relazione ai principali servizi e tipi di programma forniti nel quadro dei Servizi UE ;
  2. le norme editoriali sono applicate ai Servizi UE e le decisioni assunte permettono di garantire il rispetto delle suddette norme, verificando in quale misura il contraente si è attenuto alle norme stesse ;
  3. nel corso dell’anno sono condotte attività di ricerca e di studio volte a verificare i bisogni e gli interessi del pubblico dei Servizi UE e assicurare che le principali indicazioni emerse siano catalogate;
  4. le critiche del pubblico (e gli aspetti su cui vertono) sono elaborate e in quale misura.

 

4.NORME RELATIVE AL PROGRAMMA

4.1. Il contraente s’impegna ad assicurare che la diffusione o la trasmissione dei programmi, da parte, per conto o ai sensi di una licenza rilasciata dal contraente, e in rapporto ai servizi UE:

  1. si configuri come un servizio perfettamente equilibrato e tratti di un’ampia scelta di argomenti ;
  2. avvenga alle ore indicate nel Contratto, o, in assenza di precisazioni, alle ore appropriate ;
  3. affronti qualsiasi tema controverso con tutta la precisione e l’obiettività necessarie, nel quadro dei nuovi servizi del contraente e di qualsiasi altro programma più generale che tratti di temi d’interesse pubblico, politici o sociali suscettibili di sollevare una controversia;
  4. non includa alcun elemento che possa offendere il buon gusto o la decenza, o tale da incoraggiare atti di violenza o istigare al disordine o recare offesa ai telespettatori o agli ascoltatori ;
  5. non implichi una qualsiasi forma di sfruttamento indecente della sensibilità dei telespettatori o degli ascoltatori o un qualsiasi sfruttamento abusivo delle convinzioni o opinioni religiose degli individui appartenenti a una particolare religione o confessione religiosa;
  6. non comporti l’uso di alcun sistema tecnico che tramite la trasmissione di immagini di brevissima durata o in qualsiasi altro modo sfrutti la possibilità di trasmettere un messaggio o d’influenzare in un qualsiasi altro modo lo spirito dei telespettatori dei Servizi UE, senza che essi siano consapevoli – o pienamente consapevoli – delle immagini captate.

4.2. Il contraente s’impegna a:

  1. elaborare e rivedere almeno una volta all’anno un codice che stipuli le regole da osservare in tema di applicazione del precedente articolo 4.1 nell’ambito dei Servizi UE;
  2. assicurare il rispetto delle disposizioni del codice nel quadro dell’esecuzione dei servizi e dei programmi (il contraente si riserva il diritto di adottare diverse disposizioni del codice in funzione dei casi e della circostanze).

4.3. Le regole specificate nel codice (articolo 4.2) devono in particolare assicurare il rispetto da parte del contraente della sua totale imparzialità, in conformità all’articolo 4.1. Questa condizione assume un interesse fondamentale non solo in relazione al citato articolo ma anche all’insieme delle disposizioni;

4.4. Inoltre queste regole, nei limiti ritenuti opportuni dal contraente, dovranno menzionare :

  1. il grado di obiettività che è opportuno rispettare, in termini generali e in presenza di particolari circostanze ;
  2. il modo in cui questo grado di obiettività deve essere rispettato nel quadro di particolari programmi.

Queste regole devono altresì sancire il fatto che l’obiettività – anche se di rigore – non implica l’applicazione del

 

5. RICERCHE

Il contraente s’impegna ad assumere tutti i provvedimenti necessari al fine di realizzare un programma di ricerca e di sviluppo volto a valutare i bisogni e gli interessi del pubblico dei Servizi UE, con il personale proprio o in collaborazione con università, aziende o qualsiasi altra entità secondo il caso.

 

6. ETICA

6.1. Il contraente s’impegna a non concedere – e a non permettere a terzi di concedere – a membri delle istituzioni UE – doni o qualsiasi altro compenso a titolo di incoraggiamento di qualsivoglia natura, o una ricompensa per l’esecuzione o la mancata esecuzione di un’azione passata o futura o di qualsiasi altro contratto, o manifestare o astenersi dal manifestare simpatia o antipatia nei confronti di qualunque persona in base ad un’azione o di un qualsiasi altro contratto o convenzione.

6.2. In caso di violazione della presente disposizione da parte del contraente, di uno dei suoi dipendenti o di qualsiasi altro individuo che agisca per suo conto (con o senza il consenso del contraente) o in caso di infrazione da parte del contraente, di uno dei suoi dipendenti o di qualsiasi altro individuo che agisca per suo conto nel quadro del presente Contratto, la Commissione si riserva il diritto di esigere dal contraente, al termine di una procedura in contraddittorio, l’importo o il valore del suddetto dono o compenso.

 

8. EU FRAMEWORK COMMITMENTS

As part of Euronews’ Framework agreement with the European Commission covering the period 2017-2021, Euronews is committed to

  • Progressively increasing and expanding the volume and impact of its reporting of EU affairs and policies
  • Improving the quality of reporting on EU affairs
  • Guaranteeing a European perspective in each of its language services
  • Improving digital coverage of European affairs as part of its wider multiplatform strategy
  • Ensuring an plurastic coverage of EU affairs, covering all audience groups
  • Reinforcing the production and distribution of content in Euronews’ EU languages
  • Reinforcing the production and distribution of content in Euronews’ non-EU languages
  • Exploring possibilities to broaden Euronews public service status, distribution activites and linguistic diversity within Europe

 

How this is achieved

Euronews fulfills the above missions using a range of approaches including:

  • Using correspondents and experienced freelancer journalists around Europe to report on the ground and bring different perspectives into coverage
  • Investing in original content around stories of European interest
  • Maintaining a multi-lingual team of journalists in Brussels to report on European Affairs through a range of programme formats
  • Working with partners to launch new programmes both on television and online
  • Improving and adapting journalistic workflows to take advantage of new technologies and presentation possibilities
  • Ensuring consistency of coverage by setting multilingual stories for production in all Euronews languages as part of the daily news agenda
  • Adapting content for different platforms, according to European media consumption habits
  • Covering major events as they happen with live images and/or text commentary
  • Conducting interviews with news makers from across Europe and beyond

 

II. Annual statement of commitment to viewers

 

Euronews wishes to show its viewers, on a daily basis, Europe as it is: richly diverse and complex.Ambition and impartiality are the guiding principles that will shape the media’s coverage of current events in and outside the European Union.A national focus is now too narrow for informing the public and debating the issues. Euronews is tracking the emergence, out in the field, of a genuine European public arena.Our broadcasting formats – reports, interviews and debates – are designed to observe how the European Union’s actions, decisions and policies impact on its citizens’ lives.

1. EUROPEAN MISSIONS TO INFORM

Euronews has been recognized a mission of European general interest in the field of information since 2010 by the European Commission.

To fully play its role as a transnational media organisation, Euronews must fulfil four European Missions to Inform: “News Brief”, “News Perspective”, “In Depth” and “Live”:

The “News Brief” Mission (EMI I) aims to provide viewers, quickly and concisely, with the day’s essential European news.

The “News Perspective” Mission (EMI II) aims to give them the keys to understanding European current events.

The “In Depth” Mission (EMI III) aims to help them explore the perspectives opened up by being a European citizen.

The “Live” Mission (EMI IV) aims to give them direct access, in real time, to the public debate and to the events that set the tempo of Europe’s institutions.

 

2. PRODUCTION STANDARDS

In carrying out these European Missions to Inform, Euronews undertakes to comply with high quality standards in order to meet viewers’ expectations and needs.

Independence

The channel pays special attention to its independence when treating topics to do with public-interest, political and social issues, and more generally with all news themes subject to controversy. Programme content must be produced without any pressure from any EU institution, political party or business entity.

In general terms, the duty of independence dictates the conduct of all participants in the editorial production process, from the gathering of news through to its airing. Euronews journalists therefore undertake to “resist every pressure and (…) accept editorial orders only from the responsible persons of the editorial staff” (1971 Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Journalists).

Impartiality

Euronews remains impartial while carrying out its European Missions to Inform. Impartiality is defined essentially as the search to reasonably compare points of view within the bounds of fundamental democratic principles. This consequently enables the topic to be given a horizontal (for/against) or vertical(EU/national/regional) dialectic treatment.

Diversity

The programmes made within the scope of the European Missions to Inform are produced with the constant care to promote cultural diversity, as defined by the Treaty (art. 151). They will aim, in particular, to improve viewers’ knowledge of the culture and history of Europe’s peoples.

Moreover, editorial decisions are always taken with the aim of achieving a thematic and geographic balance in the treatment of news, refraining, in particular, from giving greater emphasis to one national viewpoint than to another.

Respect for viewers

While carrying out its European Missions to Inform, Euronews takes scrupulous care to respect its viewers. Consequently, elements liable to offend viewers’ sensibilities are banned from its programmes.

This applies to all images and information that are manifestly incompatible with good taste and decency or liable to encourage or give rise to acts of violence or disorder.

Further, the editorial managers ensure that there is no indecent exploitation of viewers’ sensibilities, and no abusive exploitation of religious beliefs and opinions.

 

3. PROGRAMMING

To fulfil its four European Missions to Inform, Euronews has devised various Modules to fit better into its overall programme schedule. Below is an inventory describing their content (format, length and structure).

 

3.1 News modules

3.1.1 News mandatory & specifics

The production will be fed primarily by Euronews own newsgathering, driven by the enhanced production and journalistic capabilities, focusing more on our own original journalism, first-hand accounts, reactions and graphic elements, in order to decrease the use of news agencies.

Produced by specialist journalists, with content supplied by EbS but also footage from EBU member agencies or television channels, the Post-produced News packages give an update on a hot topic attracting public attention in Brussels or Strasbourg and in the member countries. The essential news about European institutions takes a central place in Euronews’ daily schedule, but is subject to increased editorial stringency compared to previous formats and to the general treatment of international news.

3.1.2 Live coverage

There is only one Module in this fourth and final European Mission to Inform: live broadcasts, with commentary and translation in seven languages, of the big events to do with the European Union and its institutions (European Parliament sessions, debates and votes; European Council meetings, press conferences, visits by heads of state and government, celebrations and commemorations, etc.). This direct access to the main events in European public life lets viewers make their own judgements about the decisions taken by the Union’s top bodies. These Live broadcasts may vary widely in length, depending on the event. On average, they will be 40′ long. They will amount to a yearly total of 31 hours and 20 minutes.

3.1.3 European Correspondent Network

Euronews’ freelance network focused on putting the spotlight on European citizens and their challenges and achievements.

Our coverage included topics such as the Swedish elections, anti-corruption protests in Romania, the Catalunya crisis in Spain, the bridge collapse tragedy in Italy, the San Sebastian film festival in Spain as well as numerous other daily stories from Eastern Europe to the West of Europe.

Having original content, featuring the voices of those living through the stories we tell has had a positive impact on output. Stories from our freelance network perform on average more than four times better than other stories on our website.

Euronews brings the voices of Europeans from all corners of the continent into our overall focus on the wishes, choices and issues of Europeans at a crucial moment in its history with the elections of 2019 (see Improving News Coverage section).

 

3.2 Programs

3.2.1 The Brief from Brussels

The Brief from Brussels is a daily news segment complementing Euronews’ overall world news coverage, bringing Euronews’ daily European affairs coverage into a designated news spotlight.

Launched in 2016, The Brief from Brussels has quickly become a strong contribution to Euronews daily news coverage, by bringing a new impetus in our European Affairs coverage through content and presentation. The Brief from Brussels is an evening prime-time presence, included in the evening presented news bulletins on World and all languages, but still marking it as such with dedicated graphics.

Euronews’ European Affairs journalists in Brussels will produce a combination of daily “mandatory” stories as well as “multiplex” ones (several language journalists coming together to produce a common story, each bringing his/her own national ingredients into the pan-European mix), both on the live channel and the other languages channels.

Each journalist will present these stories on camera, targeting their own audiences as well as each journalist going into the field to cover their own content, which is the mixed together into a global output by the Brussels bureau. Euronews World will cover the selected topics in the live formats of this channel through a flexible variety of elements: voice-overs on videos and graphics and main soundbites.

3.2.2 State of the Union

Launched in 2016, The “State of the Union” quickly established itself as a flagship program in our European Affairs news reporting, through the comprehensive content selection and analysis.

The State of the Union is the weekly round-up of the main European political stories, focusing on the main evolutions of the elections campaign, the post-elections developments and the headline making events and their reverberations across Europe. The program is presented by a Euronews Brussels journalist, recorded and produced on Friday, and broadcast from Friday evening through the weekend until Sunday evening.

3.2.3 Insiders

Insiders was launch in April 2016 as a 20-minute weekly program of investigative reporting, focused on European issues with different perspectives. The aim is to tell the often unreported or under-reported stories of European citizens and the challenges they face — be they economic, social or political.

Insiders is promoted digitally, not only on euronews.com but also with products especially designed for social media such as one-minute or less cut-downs of the show’s most poignant interviews and/or excerpts and short teasers for the program.

3.2.4 The Global Conversation

Conversations without filters, without digressions and without cuts.

This is the idea behind “Uncut – a special edition of the Global Conversation”, our unedited one-on-one interviews; a format we have successfully developed in 2018.

Uncut is an evolution of our flagship program The Global Conversation, where our leading journalists speak to high-profile guests about politics, business, culture and sport.

We will also keep developing the “All Views” strategy in the program, by inviting two or more guests offering different visions on an issue during some key episodes.

Uncut and Global Conversation are highly promoted on air and on our digital platforms. We regularly produce subtitled videos with the highlights of the show, along with articles and pictures that are highly share-able on the social platforms.

3.2.5 Magazines from different DGs of the European Commission

Over the past years, Euronews has consolidated a streamlined set of flagship programmes that present a pan-European perspective not only on the big stories of the day but on issues that affect Europeans that slip under the radar of other international media.

The ‘All Views’ message will remain at the heart of our magazines. Produced by journalists from across Europe, and with the mission to report from all corners of the continent and beyond, these magazines reflect the points of view, perspectives and opinions of as broad a cross section of Europeans as possible. This plurality of views remains a crucial mission statement for Euronews.

We continue to emphasize and innovate our current affairs output and enrich the content of programmes produced in partnership with the DGs. We see these programmes as a contribution to the dialogue and debate in the European public sphere, but also – reflecting the changing times we live in – juxtaposing, comparing and analyzing the national perspectives that reflect the enormous diversity of cultures and values across the Union.

The programmes co-funded by the DGs of the European Commission include:

  • – Aid Zone
  • – Business Planet
  • – Futuris
  • – Ocean
  • – Real Economy
  • – Smart Regions

 

3.3 Quantity per module

Besides the qualitative undertakings made above, Euronews also gives its viewers guarantees on how many units of each module will be broadcast yearly. Each European Mission to Inform thus has a clearly stated presence in the Euronews grid and programming.

MODULENB EPISODES PER YEAR
Post produced news stories1300
Specific post produced news stories340
Live47
The Brief from Brussels150
State of the Union47
Insiders10
Global Conversation – short format18
Global Conversation – long format8
Freelance Network

QUANTITÀ ANNUALI PER MISSIONE E PER MODULO

Missione I – 1,227 News Brief

Module 01 – 141 Servizi girati

Module 02 – 1,086 Servizi post-prodotti

Missione II – 198 News Perspective

Module 03 – 104 Servizi settimanali post-prodotti

Module 04 – 26 Servizi quotidiani girati

Module 05 – 68 Servizi quotidiani post-prodotti

Mission III – 200 News In Depth packages

Module 06 – 47 Ritratti e Interviste

Module 07 – 12 Dibattiti

Module 08 – 47 Magazines di 8 mn

Module 09 – 47 Magazines di 8 mn post-prodotti

Module 10 – 47 Rassegne europee

Missione IV – 24 Directs

Module 11 – 720 minuti di Dirette europee, ovvero circa 24 x 30 minuti