France Télévisions Chief Proposes Overhaul of TV Bias Rules, But Shields Public Broadcaster
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France’s public television network, France Télévisions, could see a significant shift in how political viewpoints are handled on air, according to proposals made by its president, Delphine Ernotte Cunci. The move comes as Ernotte prepares to testify before a parliamentary commission on Wednesday, December 10, investigating the “neutrality” and “financing of public broadcasting.”
A New Approach to Political Commentary
Ernotte is advocating for a re-evaluation of regulations governing opinion channels in France, suggesting a system more akin to that of the print media. Currently, a 1986 law doesn’t explicitly authorize dedicated opinion channels. “The problem is that the 1986 law, above all a law of freedom of expression, does not authorize an opinion channel. Perhaps this question is worth asking again,” Ernotte stated in an interview with Le Figaro.
She proposes allowing television channels to openly declare a political leaning – be it left, center, right, or extreme – mirroring the established practice in newspapers and magazines. “Why not accept, as in the press, that there are titles of political sensibilities of the left, the center, the right, the extreme left or the extreme right?” she questioned. Implementing a system of “external pluralism,” she believes, would provide greater transparency for viewers. “Applying the rule of so-called ‘external’ pluralism to television would be clearer for the public. We would know where everyone was talking about.”
Protecting Public Service Impartiality
However, Ernotte drew a firm line regarding the application of these potential changes to France Télévisions. “Our credo is impartiality,” she emphasized. “France Télévisions must remain the center of trust that it is today.” She also expressed support for the work of the Arcom, France’s broadcasting regulator, in maintaining the impartiality of public service media, calling it “a very good thing.”
This stance comes after Ernotte publicly criticized the media holdings of Vincent Bolloré, specifically CNews, in a September interview with Le Monde. At the time, she called for CNews to acknowledge its position as a far-right channel. However, in her recent comments to Le Figaro, she clarified, “We are not against CNews. I never advocated for its closure! We simply don’t do the same work.”
Ernotte’s proposals reflect a growing concern over the increasing polarization of the French television landscape. She contrasted the current situation with the United States, where politically aligned channels are commonplace. She believes the emergence of overtly partisan television channels in France is a relatively “nouveau” phenomenon.
The debate over media bias and the role of public broadcasting is likely to intensify as Ernotte faces questioning from lawmakers this week. Her proposals represent a significant potential shift in French media regulation, one that seeks to balance freedom of expression with the need for transparency and public trust.
