Extension of Eric Zemmour's domain
Audio 02:39
Eric Zemmour.
© AFP / Joël Saget
By: Amaury de Rochegonde Follow
5 mins
The media are mobilizing to follow the rise in power in the polls of Eric Zemmour, considered a prospective presidential candidate.
Advertising
A cover of
Paris Match
showing Éric Zemmour bathing in the Mediterranean with his close advisor, a debate on BFMTV with strong scenography opposing him to Jean-Luc Mélenchon and broadcast at the same time on RMC, the program
Le Grand Rendez-Vous
on CNews and Europe 1 this Sunday with the same Zemmour ... And it is not over: the far-right polemicist will be the guest of Ruth Elkrief on Monday on LCI before being that of Paris Première, in
Restons Zen
, the show that follows
Zemmour and Naulleau
.
Let's stay zen ... We must undoubtedly go back to 2016 and the announcement of Emmanuel Macron's candidacy to find such enthusiasm in the media for a candidate who has yet to be declared.
The question is therefore to know if we are not here in front of a textbook case of runaway, outbidding, unconsciousness of the media which will be observed later with severity.
Have the dikes which hitherto prevented the overexposure of the most populist and xenophobic ideas have not been blown?
The interest of the channels in inviting Éric Zemmour
So of course, the pollsters who credit him 10 or 11% will answer that they tested Zemmour's name because he was followed on CNews, sold his books well and seemed to be preparing for his candidacy. The media will say, them, that they invited Zemmour since he was no longer the official columnist of CNews and that he rose in the polls. Above all, he does audience.
With its debate on Thursday, BFMTV achieved the second best audience in its history, with 3.8 million viewers, almost four times more than “Élysée 2022”, the new France 2 program broadcast at the same time with Valérie Pécresse, the candidate LR.
It remains to be seen whether the fire Zemmour does not win thanks to the flammable liquid constantly thrown at him by the media, and in particular the news channels.
Only one, let us remember, makes money, BFMTV, and all of them have an interest in maintaining the Zemmour flame.
Debate in the editorial staff
In the editorial staff, the debate is lively.
Should we speak of Zemmour even if it means fueling the phenomenon?
“
Can we argue with anyone?
", Headlined Thursday
Liberation
.
Before discussing it internally.
The problem is that we know the booster of this spiral well.
Before being elected, Donald Trump built himself on television by being propelled by Fox News, which pushed him up in the polls.
In the UK, Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch is launching a new channel, Talk TV, this week featuring the provocative and ultra-conservative Piers Morgan.
Those who start out as troublemakers often have great patrons behind them.
But who stops them?
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Culture
Media
Presidential France 2022