Remember…
This report was requested by theMy face following the controversy triggered by the video showing two journalists speaking on the public service, Thomas Legrand et Patrick Cohendiscussing privately in a Parisian restaurant with PS officials.
The controversy led to the opening of a commission of inquiry of the National Assembly (which will certainly not have escaped your notice, as it captivated the media), where France Télévisions et Radio France were subjected to heavy criticism from its rapporteur, the UDR deputy Charles Alloncleallied with the RN, and himself attacked for his methods described as “inquisitorial” by his detractors.
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In this context, the Minister of Culture “ announces the immediate initiation of work to modify the specifications of France Télévisions, Radio France and France Médias Monde », indicates a communiqué de son minister.
These decrees will aim in particular to:
- Establish an annual public barometer of impartiality
- Create a charter per company formalizing their commitments
- Establish an internal complaints handling mechanism for citizens.
💉 Read also France Télévisions opens its accounts to the general public
A little earlier, the honorary vice-president of the Council of State, Bruno Lasserresubmitted a report containing 17 measures, including the obligation for public service media to adopt a more robust editorial charter than what currently exists, based on the model of the “editorial guidelines” of the BBC in the United Kingdom.
It is necessary, according to him, “ an accessible, simple collection (…) something like that that you can touch with your finger “, he underlined, brandishing the manual and specifying that it has “450 pages”.
We are reassured…
💉 Read also Media independence in France: press freedom more threatened than ever
Learn more
These announcements do not come out of nowhere: they extend an open sequence around public broadcasting since 2024.
Act 1, the Dati project (2024-2025). Launched by Catherine Pégard’s predecessor at the Ministry of Culture, Rachida Dati, the reform intended to merge France Télévisions, Radio France and the INA within a single holding company, “France Media”, to build a “BBC at the French”. Supported by the Lafon bill (already adopted in the Senate), it was rejected by the National Assembly on June 30, 2025.
Act 2, the Alloncle report (May 2026). Born from the controversy over the dinner between journalists Thomas Legrand and Patrick Cohen and PS officials, a parliamentary commission of inquiry “on the neutrality, operation and financing of public broadcasting” published a 551-page report on May 5. Its rapporteur, the UDR deputy Charles Alloncle, put forward highly contested recommendations (obligation of neutrality including off-air, scale of internal sanctions, appointment of leaders by the President of the Republic, more than a billion euros in savings).
Act 3, the escape of the Ernotte scenarios (May 26, 2026). Three days before the ministry’s announcements, the press (L’Opinion, then Le Monde) revealed that the president of France Télévisions, Delphine Ernotte, had presented behind closed doors three scenarios for overhauling the group: elimination of France 4 and France TV Slash, mergers of channels… Tracks which largely overlap those of Alloncle, a sign that the management of the public service is now itself anticipating its restructuring.
