CNews is in the news again. This Thursday, November 14, Arcom (Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication) announced that it had imposed two fines on the channel, totaling 150,000 euros. These sanctions concern two separate broadcasts, accused of having conveyed “inexact” information without contradiction or sufficient verification on abortion and “parents of Muslim students”. The first sanction, of 100,000 euros, targets an edition of In search of spiritbroadcast on February 25, 2024.
During this broadcast, abortion was described as “leading cause of death in the world”a statement that sparked a wave of indignation. An erroneous statement which, according to Arcom, was not contested either by the host or by the other speakers present on the set. Arcom recalled that “abortion cannot be presented as a cause of mortality”. The lack of contradiction in the face of this inaccuracy constitutes a violation of the legal obligations imposed on television channels in terms of rigor and verification of the information broadcast. Faced with criticism, CNews quickly presented a public apology, but that was not enough.
Bolloré group channels in turmoil
The second fine, of 50,000 euros, the episode of Morandini Live of September 28, 2023, which relayed unverified claims about parents of Muslim students who allegedly demanded the establishment of prayer rooms during a school trip to the Pyrenees. This statement, which turned out to be inaccurate, had not been subject to any prior verification. Arcom also pointed out a lack of oratorical precautions, a key element in the dissemination of sensitive information.
This breach of journalistic ethics once again highlights the limits of certain media practices. These sanctions occur in a complex context for the Bolloré group's channels. In addition to these cases, C8, one of the group's flagship channels, is contesting before the Council of State its eviction from TNT, scheduled for February 2025, announced by Arcom.
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