As if the nebulous project to reform public broadcasting was not enough, Radio France has been at the heart of the media cyclone in recent days, with a positioning that questions.
Whether it is a comedian or a journalist who has worked on one of our channels, Radio France shows that it is afraid of its own shadow.
In both cases, it gives the unpleasant feeling of wanting to please the most extreme criticseither by making hasty decisions, or by being, to say the least, clumsy by in fact fueling the outpouring of hatred on social networks.
The main qualities that we expect from a manager in such delicate moments are composure and taking the upper hand, so as not to over-react and focus on the essential principles.
So let’s say it: it is the essence of political satire to displease and provoke, and that is part of freedom of expression while respecting the law.
As for harassment and threats, no amount of debate makes them acceptable.
Don’t try to please
It is illusory to hope to gain the good graces of those who take advantage of these episodes to attack the public service, which they would only accept at their discretion. Giving them pledges in the hope of appeasing them would only serve to encourage them.
We are not fools, these tensions have only one goal: to weaken Radio France and its teams at a time when some dream of seeing them disappear in a big merged thing which aims to weaken public broadcasting and, ultimately, take it back in hand.
More than ever, public service radio must remain a bulwark against invective of all kinds: it must remain standing. Listeners deserve a plurality of tones and points of view.
