Plurality of thought and opinion: Formal notice served on CNews

The French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication (Arcom) has issued a formal notice to the CNews channel to comply with the requirement for plurality in expression of different schools of thought and opinion.

Background

Since its decision of 17 July 2024, in accordance with the case law of the Council of State, Arcom has extended its monitoring of broadcasters’ obligations regarding plurality beyond mere airtime allocated to political figures. Arcom now also ensures that the expression of different schools of thought and opinion by all on-air contributors is not affected by a manifest and persistent imbalance in news programmes or those contributing to them. This “broader” plurality is assessed over a period of at least one month on news channels and three months on general-interest channels.

In January 2026, Arcom was referred to by the organisation Reporters Without Borders on the grounds of an alleged breach by the channel CNews, in March 2025, of its obligations under this extended plurality.

It investigated the submission of a case before the court by broadcasting a sample of 168 hours of news programmes. This sample consisted of the programmes with the highest viewer numbers, accounting for more than half of the channel’s total audience in March 2025.

For each programme, Arcom identified the various topics covered and examined, as of the comments made by the participants, the viewpoints expressed as well as the space given to the expression of opposing views. On the basis of this examination, Arcom assessed, more broadly, whether or not there was a manifest and persistent imbalance in the expression of currents of thought and opinion on the channel.

Arcom’s main findings

Five themes featured particularly prominently on air in March 2025: security, the war between Ukraine and Russia, La France insoumise (LFI), Franco-Algerian relations and current political affairs.

A detailed analysis of the segments devoted to these themes reveals a broad convergence of the views expressed.

Other topics, which appeared less frequently during the broadcast than the previous ones, are nevertheless also regularly addressed, including in passing when they are not the primary focus of the debate, and are treated in a consistent manner. This is the case with topics relating to the Muslim faith, immigration, the workings of the justice system and the sentence imposed on a politician.

The repetition of the same comments and opinions reveals, more broadly, in comparison with other perspectives and opinions also present in the public debate, the predominance of a single framework for interpreting current affairs, characterised by a focus, through the prism of internal security, on the threat that immigration and Islam allegedly pose to French society, the questioning, particularly on these issues, of the actions of the executive and the European Union, and a strong distrust of the judiciary, as well as systematic criticism of the La France insoumise party. Arcom also notes that the organisation of the debates, in particular the predominant role of the presenters, whose viewpoint frequently shapes the entire discussion, contributes to this one-sided treatment of current affairs.

Conversely, speakers offering a contrary, different or more nuanced analysis are given less speaking time or see their arguments dismissed without any cross-examination.

The Arcom decision

TThe requirement for a plurality in the expression of currents of thought and opinion does not preclude a news service from choosing to give greater coverage to certain topics as part of its news coverage, nor does it preclude it from giving a prominent place in its programming to debate programmes.

However, it does not permit structural imbalances in the expression of viewpoints to lead to the manifest over-representation, across the entire schedule, of a single school of thought and opinion.

However, an analysis of the programmes shown during March 2025 on CNews highlights the absence, in most cases, of a plurality of viewpoints and the overall predominance of a single framework for interpreting current affairs.

As these factors constitute a clear and persistent imbalance in the expression of schools of thought and opinion, they indicate a failure by CNews to meet its obligations regarding plurality during the month of March 2025.

It is the channel’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the rules in force and its commitments. As made provision for by law, any further breach may justify the initiation of legal sanctions proceedings.

More broadly, in view of the upcoming national elections, and in addition to the investigation of submissions of cases before the court regarding potential breaches made by third parties, Arcom has decided to establish a monitoring mechanism regarding compliance with “broadened” plurality by the four national 24-hour news channels. This monitoring will complement the usual tracking of speaking time for political figures.

View the formal notice decision