Ferghane Azihari: 'To counter CNews, Arcom yields to the illiberal temptation'

France's audiovisual authority, Arcom, has mandated that the news channel CNews must adopt a more pluralistic approach to its reporting. The primary criticism leveled against CNews is its perceived "too uniform" coverage of sensitive subjects, including Islam, immigration, and the workings of the justice system.

Ferghane Azihari, writing for Le Figaro, describes Arcom's decision as succumbing to an "illiberal temptation." He argues that the regulator is yielding to a vocal minority uncomfortable with the presence of conservative viewpoints in public discourse. Azihari contends that Arcom's intervention, by dictating editorial content beyond the established obligation of balancing speaking time among political figures, crosses an unprecedented threshold.

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For contrer Cnews, l’Arcom cède à la tentation illibérale

"It is one thing to criticize the editorial line of the media, whose choices are questionable in a democracy," Azihari writes. "But to grant a handful of bureaucrats the right to regulate the treatment of information goes beyond what is tolerable in a regime that claims to be constitutional." He questions why regulatory action should stop at television media, implying a broader concern about freedom of the press.

The article suggests that Arcom's decision might be subject to "variable geometry," hinting at a potential inconsistency in how such regulations are applied. The piece frames Arcom's move as an overreach that undermines the editorial freedom of private media, raising concerns about the balance between regulation and liberty in the French media landscape.

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It is one thing to criticize the editorial line of the media, whose choices are questionable in a democracy. But to grant a handful of bureaucrats the right to regulate the treatment of information goes beyond what is tolerable in a regime that claims to be constitutional.