France: coronavirus crisis boosts trust in the media

Soaring user numbers and rising subscriber figures: in the Covid-19 pandemic the French are turning once more to television, radio and the press. The crisis of confidence that has dogged traditional media in recent years and was exacerbated by the Yellow Vests movement in 2018/2019 seems suddenly to be a thing of the past.

French President Emmanuel Macron and former minister of defence, Sylvie Goulard, alongside Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation. Dassault is not only the world's sixth largest manufacturer of military aircraft, it also owns the daily newspaper Le Figaro.
French President Emmanuel Macron and former minister of defence, Sylvie Goulard, alongside Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation. Dassault is not only the world's sixth largest manufacturer of military aircraft, it also owns the daily newspaper Le Figaro.
Reliable information has suddenly become a top priority again in the coronavirus crisis. In addition to the latest news on the pandemic and its effects, the media are providing citizens with expert advice, tips for daily life in a state of emergency and numerous options for interaction. At the same time, however, media companies are facing new challenges: the lockdown restrictions have had a severe impact on journalistic activities and advertising revenues have plummeted. This is prompting concern about a new wave of closures in the industry and increased concentration of media ownership.

Information is becoming a luxury product


Most French media outlets are already in the hands of rich businesspeople or industrialists like Internet entrepreneur Patrick Drahi, or the Dassault family, which owns aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation. Although journalists have occasionally succeeded in expanding their rights to ensure journalistic independence, as was recently the case at Le Monde and Mediapart, there is the risk that access to information will become more restricted as a result of the coronavirus crisis, especially for those who have suffered financially.

Relations between President Macron and the media are strained. From the start of his term of office he kept his distance from the press. He has tried to impose stricter controls on coverage of his person and has banned journalists from the Elysée Palace. In November 2018, in line with legislation put forward by Macron, the French parliament passed two controversial laws under which parties or candidates can take legal action against rumours and fake news in the three months leading up to a nationwide election. Critics, including several journalist organisations, warned that the legislation curbed freedom of expression and could encourage censorship. In their opinion the president was simply trying to suppress inopportune information.

Fear of a surveillance state

France had already tightened its surveillance laws after the Islamist attack against the Charlie Hebdo editorial offices in January 2015 in which twelve journalists were killed. In order to monitor “critical foreign-policy interests” and “defend against attacks on institutions of the Republic” the secret service is now permitted to store Internet data taken directly from providers. But observers fear that the vague terminology used in the regulations may allow the surveillance to be extended to political activists and journalists.

Yet press freedom has a long tradition in France: the first newspaper, called Strassburger Relationen, appeared in the seventeenth century. During the French Revolution the number of newspapers rose to 1,000. In 1881 press freedom was enshrined in the constitution. France is also home to the world's first news agency, Agence France Presse, founded in 1835.

Television plays a central role in public debate, in particular the 8pm news of the private broadcaster TF1 and the public station France 2. If a French president wants to address the nation he appears on France 2. France has one of the largest numbers of radio stations in the world, currently around 900. The public station Radio France broadcasts news and cultural and regional programmes.

France has a broad spectrum of print media. The national newspapers with the most readers are Le Parisien, Le Figaro and Le Monde. Some regional newspapers, such as Ouest-France, reach many more readers, however. Although many papers are struggling with declining circulation, recent years have seen the arrival of new newspapers such as Mediapart, L’Opinion, Causeur and Les Jours. Many of these new papers offer a substantial platform for an exchange of opinions. French newspapers are also increasingly courting readers outside the country. In 2016 the Catholic newspaper La Croix launched an English-language online version and in 2019 Le Monde launched its lifestyle magazine M International, which is also published in English.


World Press Freedom Index (Reporters Without Borders):
Rank 34 (2020)

Last updated: April 2020
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