The French Council of State has overturned a decision by the media regulator Arcom not to take action against news channel CNews.
It follows a case brought by Reporters sans frontières, which argued the Canal+ channel, dubbed the French Fox News, had breached its legal obligations in independence and pluralism of information.
Reporters sans frontières described the ruling as an “essential victory”.
The judge criticised Arcom for limiting its ruling to the compliance issue over how much airtime had been given to political figures, rather than examining whether the channel was presenting true diversity of thought and opinion.
“Our objective, in fighting for pluralism and the independence of information, is to simply defend democracy,” said Christophe Deloire, Secretary General of RSF. “The fragmentation of society through the polarization of the media, their capture by the owners and the decline of journalism are fatal dangers for our country and each of us. It is no coincidence that the French strongly demand a strengthening of pluralism and independence of information.”
The judge ordered Arcom to take a new decision on CNews and review its codes on pluralism and independence.
In a statement, Arcom welcomed what it sees as extended powers around pluralism, and the ability to take into account the charactaristics of a channel as a whole.
“With this renewed interpretation of the 1986 law, the Council of State strengthens the capacity of control by the regulator of the obligations of these media in terms of honesty, pluralism and independence of information, while respecting their editorial freedom,” it said, conforming it would reexamine the Reporters Without Borders appeal in accordance with the decision.
