“Ten people own 90% of the media in France: we can no longer let a few billionaires + balkanize + public opinion and debates”, declared Paula Forteza, deputy Europe-Ecology Les Verts (EELV), during a conference Press.
The text, which is based on the work of economist Julia Cagé and jurist Benoît Huet, includes five main proposals aimed at improving "democratization and transparency" in the media.
The first intends to put "employees back in the governance of the media", in particular by the establishment of "a + right of approval + allowing an editorial staff to oppose a takeover by a new shareholder".
To benefit from the advantages specific to the sector (aid to the press, preferential postal rates, etc.), press companies would be required to have a "joint governance body, at least half of which is made up of employees, including at least two third of journalists".
In the audiovisual sector, the private media should respect this condition in order to be able to obtain a frequency.
Cameras of image reporter journalists during a press conference, in 2021 Damien MEYER AFP / Archives
"Any transfer or assignment of titles resulting in a change of control of the media" would be subject to the approval of this joint body, as would the choice of the editorial director, in order to put "the interests of the editorial staff above those of the 'majority shareholder of a media'.
In terms of financing, MEPs propose to "condition the granting of press-related benefits to a minimum investment rate of 35% of the company's turnover in personnel costs" and to limit the payment dividends to shareholders up to 30% of profits, the rest to be invested in the development of the activity.
To strengthen financial transparency, it is proposed to publish each year the amount of press aid received by any company and to reveal the name of any shareholder holding at least 5% of a media.
It is also suggested that a media mention its link with a shareholder when it broadcasts content concerning it.
Finally, it is proposed to partially replace the current system of aid to the press by "vouchers for the independence of the media" which would allow all French people from the age of 16 to allocate a sum to the media(s) of their choice.
"One of the ambitions of this law is to finally bring this subject into the political debate", pleaded Matthieu Orphelin, deploring the lack of political mobilization.
© 2022 AFP