“Journalists must be able to work independently – in particular independently of the wishes of their shareholders”

2023-06-27 05:00:06

Freedom of the media is a precious asset that constitutes one of the foundations of our democracy. Since the law of July 29, 1881, the press in France enjoys a specific status which recognizes its eminent role for the democratic vitality of the country. Media companies are subject to special rules and regulation, the principle of which has been the subject of broad consensus since the press ordinances of 1944. Journalists practice their profession in a protective framework: on paper at least , they can avail themselves of the assignment and conscience clause.

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Faced with a protean movement of concentration in the media sector, while many titles have fallen into the hands of billionaires with political commitments and controversial practices, many elected officials and representatives of civil society, associations of editors and readers , the representative unions are worried. As should all citizens concerned about having access to independent and quality information.

The Senate created a commission of inquiry, in 2021, “in order to shed light on the processes that have allowed or could lead to a concentration in the media in France, and to assess the impact of this concentration on democracy”. Son report was submitted in March 2022, but since then no decision has been taken by the executive, no bill has been presented, the debate remains suspended. And, during this time, the attacks on the independence of the editorial staff are multiplying, yesterday the eviction of the managing editor of the Echostoday the appointment as head of the Sunday newspaper of the former managing editor of Current values and this against the opinion of the entire editorial staff. As if the journalists had no say – as if the editorial line was the sole responsibility of the shareholders.

Inform freely

It is not a question of taking sides with this or that media, of applauding a right-wing editorial line or a more marked position on the left. The media can position themselves politically while remaining information and not opinion media, this is also their raison d’être, as long as the regulation of competition in the sector guarantees sufficient pluralism of ideas. But on the right as on the left, in a democracy, journalists must be able to work completely independently – and, in particular, independently of the wishes of their shareholders. A media is not a business like any other; it is a company which produces a public good, information, which supposes that the employees – and, in particular, the journalists – have special protections there, allowing them to inform us in complete freedom.

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