Reform of local media: “TV Lux is an example to follow”, according to Minister Galant

The new media minister Jacqueline Galant continues her visits to local media, as part of the reform initiated by the MR-Engagés majority.
This Tuesday morning she met the TV Lux teams, “an example to follow“.

Having barely taken office, the new media minister wasted no time in making the rounds of the twelve local media outlets. At TV Lux as elsewhere, the meetings are carried out at pace, like the reform that Jacqueline Galant intends to carry out.

“It is not a question of reducing resources, but of making services more efficient.
TV Lux is the good example here, with its coverage over an entire province and 43 municipalities. But if I look in Hainaut, there are four local media for 69 municipalities. We really need to change the media landscape.
But I insist, local information is very important, essential even for all citizens. We must therefore maintain local information, but we must rationalize”
Jacqueline Galant, Minister of Media of the Wallonia Brussels Federation

The only local media to cover an entire province; registered since its creation in a search for partnerships with its colleagues, but also with RTBF, TV Lux already seems molded into reform.

“Local media must be part of the desire to clean up the finances of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. We must participate in the common effort. But you should know that we have obligations, laid down in a management contract, and that it will be difficult for us to be able to carry out all these missions, whether in the field of information, inclusion, continuing education, if our resources are drastically reduced”
Nicolas Léonard, director of TV Lux

Such an in-depth reform must be accompanied by a renegotiation of management contracts. And at a time when consumption patterns are evolving like never before, the minister sees this as an opportunity to somewhat relax the control of local media…

“In this evolution of the media, there is obviously an aspect of administrative simplification that I wish to implement. Avoid these reports which are sometimes not read, are of no use and mobilize a lot of people”
Jacqueline Galant, Minister of Media of the Wallonia Brussels Federation

Do better, with less!
In a few weeks, the media minister will begin discussions with all stakeholders. Without losing sight of the fact that apart from the financing of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, aid from the province and the municipalities remains essential…

Christophe Thiry