Dot Journalism

16 April 2004

New industry standard aims to reward quality

Web publishers can now apply for certification under a new international standard designed to recognise quality management in the broadcasting industry.
The new ISAS BC 9001 standard is based on a 10-year-old model adopted by more than 550,000 organisations around the world, but will now also apply to web publishers as well as broadcasters.
The standard will measure industry-specific criteria including editorial independence, accuracy of information, accessibility and innovation. Certification lasts for three years, and the society believes that proof of quality management will help organisations to operate more efficiently, attracting high-quality journalists and demonstrating greater accountability to viewers.
“Although common quality standards are tacitly recognised, there is no universal standard of quality management for the broadcasting industry – ours is the first to be introduced,” said Guillaume Chenevière, director of the Geneva-based Media and Society Foundation.
“With unprecedented multiplication of information sources and supports, the public needs more guarantees as to the quality of content providers.
“This is particularly important at a time when free, independent and pluralistic media are threatened by various demand and intersets inconsistent with professional standards.”
BC 9001 was devised by the Foundation after discussion at the World Electronic Media Forum, part of the World Summit on the Information Society held in Geneva in December 2003. The standard is voluntary, and the scheme is structured so that each organisation can decide how they meet each of the 23 objectives.