Decision on Pluralism in Media
The long-awaited decision on the principle of pluralism in French audiovisual media was finally made public by the Arcom on July 18. This decision followed a directive from the Conseil d’Etat to review the rules ensuring pluralism in the media, specifically prompted by the case of CNews raised by Reporters Without Borders.
Key Points of the Decision
The Arcom’s response included four concise articles that aimed to address the main criticisms raised earlier. The regulator clarified that they would not classify or categorize participants based on their viewpoints, dispelling fears of journalist “labeling” and avoiding the creation of a complex system.
New Evaluation Criteria
Moving forward, the Arcom will assess the balance of viewpoints in media content based on a set of indicators. These include the variety of topics covered, diversity of participants, and presentation of differing perspectives on controversial subjects. This approach aims to uphold the constitutional value of pluralism while allowing broadcasters flexibility in content creation.
Leave a Reply