‘Victory for democracy’: French court asks regulator to probe CNews over ‘opinion media’ allegation

French channel CNews, described as the “French Fox News” by critics, will be examined by France’s media regulator over six months to ascertain if the TV media outlet is conforming to rules on independent journalism, The Guardian reported. 

The country’s highest administrative court ordered this probe on Tuesday in a petition lodged by press freedom organisation Reporters sans Frontières. The state council also called on media regulator Arcom to take into account the diversity of thought and opinion represented on programmes, including by columnists, presenters and guests. 

RSF’s plea accused CNews of becoming “opinion media” and had asked that Arcom’s earlier refusal to investigate the channel be overturned. The RSF noted that it had been urging Arcom to remind the channel of its obligations towards “honesty, independence and pluralism” in its journalism “for almost 10 years”.   

France’s TV regulation norms mandate channels to give equal airtime to different political parties during electoral periods.

CNews is part of the Canal+ group owned by industrialist Vincent Bolloré, and was France’s “most watched information channel” last December, as per viewing figures. The TV channel is known to hold debate shows on topics such as immigration and crime.  

Christophe Deloire, RSF secretary general, called the court’s decision a “historic victory… for democracy and journalism”.

In 2021, CNews was fined €200,000 for broadcasting comments by the far-right commentator Éric Zemmour on the asylum system that was perceived as hate speech. 

This report was published with AI assistance.