La chaîne LCI mise «fermement en garde» par le CSA au sujet d’essais cliniques en Afrique

On April 1st, an Inserm researcher and a department head from a Parisian hospital had discussed the possibility of carrying out vaccine tests on the continent.

Following numerous viewer complaints, the French broadcasting regulator, the CSA, issued a “strong warning” to LCI after the April 1st broadcast of a segment in which two healthcare professionals discussed the feasibility of conducting clinical trials in Africa. In this widely criticized segment, a researcher from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and a department head from a Parisian hospital debated the potential of conducting clinical trials in Africa on the use of the BCG vaccine to prevent Covid-19 infections.

“After analyzing the entire sequence, the CSA noted that the abrupt and questionable remarks of one of the participants had not elicited any reaction or request for explanation on set. It therefore considered that this sequence reflected a lack of control over the broadcast, as defined by the agreement of LCI,” the TF1 group’s news channel, the CSA emphasized in a press release on Tuesday, April 14.

The Council “also considered, in view of the nature and characteristics of the subject concerned, that it had not been dealt with with sufficient rigor” and “therefore strongly warns the LCI channel against the recurrence of such acts”.

“Constant vigilance”

This sequence had provoked strong reactions in France and internationally, from SOS Racisme to the Socialist Party, including Ivorian football star Didier Drogba and M’jid El Guerrab, the MP for French citizens in the Maghreb and West Africa, who announced he would take legal action.

In its statement, the CSA (French Broadcasting Authority) reiterates that “in this period of acute health crisis, where questions, the need for information, and the challenges of social cohesion are greater than ever, the media bear a paramount responsibility.” “This requires constant vigilance against the significant risks of disinformation and particular rigor in the presentation and processing of information, including visual illustrations,” the Council warns.

The statement also commends “the very strong commitment of all audiovisual media outlets, public and private, national and local, and newsrooms to fulfilling their mission of providing information despite the significant difficulties they face.” AFP

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