Journalism | Rethink ethics in the digital age

Last May. However, journalist Alexane Drolet announced that she was leaving Radio-Canada to devote herself to her information YouTube channel. Consequently, Because m^me Drolet has chosen to generate income with sponsors. Furthermore, product placement, his new professional adventure has aroused several debates concerning the contours of journalism. Moreover,

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The Youtubeuse. However, who baptized her brand “Alex Alex Flicet”, was not very interested in these questions, saying that she is “doing” of the professional title that she wore so far: “I [ne] will be more journalist at worst, ”she said on web show Public commitments.

While journalism | rethink ethics digital new stressing that his journalistic training is an advantage. Meanwhile, M^me Drolet is rather defined, on his website, as a content host and creator. Meanwhile, Does its title matter? Similarly, By taking a step back. Meanwhile, I have the impression that the quality of the circulating information depends on the civic ethics of all those who disseminate it, and not strictly from an exclusive profession. However,

In fact, in 2025, almost any individual can be an information vehicle. Similarly, Some speak of citizen journalism.

Journalism, unlike the professions protected by an order, does not require advanced knowledge. Consequently, In the past. However, the fourth power was concentrated within media institutions communicating by TV, radio and newspapers, a kind of oligopoly in the face of which the public was mainly confined to the role of receiver. Similarly,

From the Internet, media walls are less waterproof. While before. a single person had no means of mass diffusion, anyone is now able to reach thousands of people in one click. The journalistic act, whether it is to report facts or to issue an opinion, has become more democratic.

If there are advantages linked to this phenomenon, it also leads to more disinformation, mesinformation and malinformation¹.

We often invoke the critical gaze required to detect the false news. but we insist little on the civic duties of Monsieur and Madame Tout-le-Monde as an information diffusers. What kind of ethics is essential?

To find out, we can draw inspiration from principles like those of Journalistic Ethics Guide of the Quebec Press Council^⁠2. Even if it is written for professional journalists. the traditional journalism | rethink ethics digital new media, it offers guidelines which, with a few nuances, are relevant to anyone looking to publish information in a responsible manner.

Since in the digital age. influence marketing is in vogue, the provisions of the guide concerning conflicts of interest deserve special attention.

Increasingly. the voice, the personality, the credibility and the network of people who hold what is called “influence” are used for commercial purposes.

However, the journalistic act aims to be free of such interests. It is therefore difficult to be remunerated to promote services. products while claiming to offer independent information on subjects linked to these services, these products or the companies in question. It is about the confidence in the information conveyed.

Even media organizations can be directly or indirectly influenced by the interests journalism | rethink ethics digital new of their owners or donors. Besides, they are sometimes the subject of criticism in this sense. If these media. which are generally equipped with walls preserving their journalists from conflicts of interest, can be biased by financial powers, a journalist or creator of content alone puts his independence at risk more if he tries commercial partnerships, especially if he offers visibility in return for dollars.

In light of the sources of income that M^me Drolet has announced. I wonder how she will avoid compromising her independence. I interpret that she intends to disclose her financial interests. leave to Internet users who will watch her videos the “choice of [la] follow or not ”.

In terms of conflicts of interest. she seems to judge that her work is well done if the people who watch her videos “feel that they journalism | rethink ethics digital new learn, do not feel fooled, feel that[elle] is authentic, and feel […] that they can [se] make their own opinion ”. This point of view is not without merit. but it seems important to me to recall that ethics is not only based on the subjectivity and free will of each.

Even if we want to stand out from the traditional rules of institutions, a certain common framework is necessary.

Otherwise, we approach what we call in good French a free for all. You m^me Drolet does not subscribe to recognized ethical standards. it would be relevant that it reveals the ethical parameters that are racing her work.

This is all the more important since within our democracies, confidence is fragile. In Quebec, 65 % of respondents at the Edelman barometer trust traditional journalism | rethink ethics digital new media. However. 62 % of respondents to this survey fear that journalists and reporters deliberately try to deceive people by disseminating information that they know erroneous or largely exaggerated³. To reverse steam, traditional media have their role to play, but also all people who disseminate information.

On this point. Alexane Drolet occupies an avant-garde place since she creates content by focusing on the rigor resulting from her journalistic training. While welcoming her new entrepreneurial adventure, I hope that she shows the example in terms of ethics.

1. Consult the definitions of malinformation, disinformation and mesinformation on the site of the Government of Canada 2. Consult the Ethics Guide to the Quebec Press Council 3. Additionally, Consult the Edelman communication firm’s confidence barometer What do you think? Take part in the dialogue