Introduction
The regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication, Arcom, announced on July 17th that it can now sanction any “manifest and lasting imbalance” in the expression of opinions on radio and television.
Background
This decision follows a previous warning in February targeting CNews, a news channel owned by conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) initiated the procedure, claiming that CNews had become an opinionated media outlet, a claim that CNews denies.
New Guidelines
Arcom has established new rules that apply to all audiovisual media, emphasizing the importance of freedom of communication. While media outlets are free to choose the topics they cover, they must ensure a general respect for pluralism.
Enforcement Measures
Media organizations will not need to regularly report to Arcom on the topics covered or the individuals involved, but they must be prepared to demonstrate compliance with pluralism requirements in case of alerts or disputes.
Conclusion
These measures aim to prevent broadcasters from bypassing the principles of pluralism in audiovisual law and reducing their programming to repetitive comments on recurring topics. RSF and other advocates welcomed these efforts to uphold media pluralism and combat biased reporting.
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