Quelle responsabilité sociale de la presse? La couverture des attaques à Ottawa et à Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

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En. 

This article examines the context surrounding the creation of self-regulation entities in the media sector by analyzing the origins of the social responsi- bility of the press theory. This theory is used as a guideline to establish the deontological principles of self-regulation organizations such as the Quebec Press Council. The evolution of professional journalistic practices bring a questioning about the current limitations of this type of supervision to cover crisis, while society, described as a “risk so- ciety” by several authors, is facing a growing number of dangers and while the professional journalistic context brings the journalists to cover even more this type of event. By focusing on the case of the October 2014 attacks in Ottawa and in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada, the author observes various Canadian media practices and studies them in parallel with the main objections raised in the Quebec Press Council jurisprudence and with the ethic guideline of this organization, to observe the potential limitations of these principles in a context of crisis. This analysis will lead to a reflection on the viability of the social respon- sibility of the press theory and on the self-regulation process currently in place. It will also question the relation between freedom of the press and individual rights (attitude of the press towards individuals and groups, privacy, security) as well as between public interest and public curiosity.