In office since 2012, Ms. Zaragoza, 62, was appointed for an additional five years by Arcom, starting April 23.

France Médias Monde brings together the continuous news channel France 24 (in French, English, Arabic and Spanish), radio RFI (in French and 15 other languages) and the Arabic language radio Monte Carlo Doualiya (MCD).

"In a context marked by a profound transformation of the audiovisual sector, an evolution of the methods of financing public audiovisual (with the abolition of the license fee, editor's note) and major geopolitical upheavals, the Authority has chosen to favor the experience acquired at the head of the group by Mrs. Marie-Christine Zaragoza", explained Arcom in a press release.

The outgoing was preferred to four other candidates: Sylvain Attal (ex-deputy director of France 24 in charge of new media), David Hivet (international media specialist), Arnaud Ngatcha (journalist and deputy mayor of Paris in charge of international relations ) and Pierre-Etienne Pommier (digital entrepreneur).

"Digital Development"

His renewal follows by three weeks that of the president of Radio France, Sibyle Veil, for a second term.

That of the third boss of public broadcasting, Delphine Ernotte (France Télévisions), runs until 2025, after its renewal in 2020.

"If I am seeking a third term, it is to consolidate this construction, ensure our place as a major reference media group on the international scene and accelerate developments and transformations", assured Ms. Zaragoza on Monday during her hearing by the Arcom.

Its four competitors all advocated changes and a "new breath" in the public group, castigating a supposed delay in the digital field and criticizing the current management.

Mr. Attal also assured that "many journalists" from France 24 felt "disarray" in the face of the feeling of being "the sleeping beauty" in a "changing world".

In announcing its decision, Arcom stressed that it would be "attentive that the company engages in a new phase of its digital development".

The authority also calls for a “strengthening of the internal management of the company”, in particular in order to “ensure an active social dialogue” and “to ensure rigorous management”.

In her project, Ms. Zaragoza insisted on the "bond of trust" with the public, which passes through "free, independent international information" in the face of manipulation and misinformation.

Funding

For this, the question of means is "a priority", she said.

FMM's budget is increasing for 2023 (285 million euros against 254 in 2022), a trend that it wishes to see "consolidated within the framework of the next COM" (contract of objectives and means) with the State for 2024-28.

After the end of the license fee, Ms Zaragoza considered it essential that public broadcasting continue to be financed by a specially earmarked envelope, and not directly by the State budget.

This is a "visible guarantee of independence" internationally which makes the FMM media "unassailable", she insisted, recalling that they were "public service channels" and not government channels.

RFI and France 24 were banned from broadcasting last April in Mali, in a context of escalating tensions between Paris and Bamako.

RFI has also been suspended in Burkina Faso since December.

Ms Zaragoza also defended the multiplicity of languages ​​on FMM antennas, contested by some of the other candidates.

Finally, it displayed its circumspection towards a possible switch to all-digital and on-demand listening, to the detriment of traditional live broadcasting.

"Each zone has its equation in terms of audience use and changes at its own pace. Certain choices made at the wrong time can destroy years of building notoriety and audience", she judged.

© 2023 AFP