the decision of the Council of State is “extremely important” and “historic”, according to Reporters Without Borders

“This is an extremely important decision and it will undoubtedly be a historic decision”reacted on Tuesday February 13, the secretary general of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Christophe Deloire, after the Council of State asked Arcom, the media regulator, to strengthen its control over the Cnews channel in the lap of conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré.

The highest administrative court has “orders Arcom to re-examine within six months the respect by the Cnews channel of its obligations in terms of pluralism and independence of information”, according to a press release. The decision follows an appeal from the NGO Reporters Without Borders.

“Arcom, until now, has not fulfilled its role”

“Finally, in France, the 1986 law will be applied in matters of information pluralism and independence,” estimated Christophe Deloire. “Arcom, until now, has not fulfilled its role. The question is not to prefer this or that editorial line, it is to talk about the obligations of pluralism.”

“Without independence, without pluralism, there is no real honesty of information”, he continued. “This decision will apply to all audiovisual media. From now on, Arcom will have to rule on the operation of all channels. We all have an interest in ensuring that the debate is not polarized between the anti-Cnews and the anti- France Inter”.