> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ilesanglo-normandes.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Supporting independent media – democratic urgency in France - URL: https://www.ilesanglo-normandes.com/co-the-french-dig-independent-bilingual-coverage-of-the-islands-and-france/ - Published: 2026-08-08T15:06:33.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-18T18:54:51.000Z - Author: îles - Tags: about > “*This is censorship; it is the worst, the most despicable of all forms of censorship; it is the kind that strikes at the writer’s most precious possession in the world — his very dignity — and leaves him to grope in the dark without shielding him from coups d’état. That is the situation in which you are placing the press today.”* [Victor Hugo, speech to French Parliament, 1848](https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/histoire/victor%5Fhugo/discours%5Ffichiers/Copie%20de%20seance%5F11octobre1848.asp?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com) --- ### Today, 80% of privately-owned French media is in the hands of just [nine men](https://www.oxfamfrance.org/actualite/media-crash-les-medias-aux-mains-de-quelques-milliardaires/?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com). ### This hyper-concentration in ownership of France's newspapers, magazines, television and radio platforms has created a media oligopoly. “The mainstream media are actively contributing to the collapse of democracy" [warn](https://www.acrimed.org/Appel-des-30-ans-d-Acrimed-Transformer-les-medias?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com)ed France’s independent media watchdog A[crimed](https://www.acrimed.org/+-La-France-insoumise-+?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com). Acrimed is monitoring two major trends: the routine platforming of far-right figures and talking points, and targeted smear campaigns against France's largest left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). The media observatory's most recent report, produced in partnership with [Blast,](https://www.blast-info.fr/?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com) '[*The Media Against Mélenchon and LFI: 15 Years of Demonisation*](https://www.acrimed.org/Les-medias-contre-Melenchon-et-LFI-15-ans-de?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com)*'* examines a sustained and organised effort across France’s mainstream media against LFI founder and 2027 presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon. > “The mainstream media are actively contributing to the collapse of democracy" Acrimed --- ### France's hard-right CNews channel sanctioned for “incitement to hatred" Further scrutiny of the media platforming of the far-right comes from France's audiovisual and digital regulator, ARCOM. In 2026 alone, ARCOM has sanctioned the hard-right channel CNews, the French news channel, owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, multiple times, over “inaccuracy, incitement to hatred and bias” in its broadcasts. "From CNews to the (now defunct) C8 channel, via the JDD and JDNews, Europe 1, Sud Radio, Valeurs actuelles and Frontières, the reactionary bloc is consolidating its position with the backing of big business – led by Vincent Bolloré, a powerful advocate of the ‘union of the right’ – and influencing the rest of the media landscape all the more easily," warned [Acrimed. ](https://www.acrimed.org/Resister-a-l-extreme-droitisation-du-debat-public?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com) --- ### The future of France Télévisions under threat The future of France Télévisions – the country’s public broadcaster and closest equivalent to the BBC is also in the balance. [Off Investigation](https://www.off-investigation.fr/?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com) reports that Emmanuel Macron's government has sought to transform the public broadcaster including through budget cuts and pressure on investigative programming. --- ### The outcome of France’s 2027 presidential election matters also to the islands Given the history and politics of the National Rally, previously known as the National Front, France's democracy itself is under threat. Founded in 1972 by a group that included former Nazi officers drawn from the Waffen-SS, the party espouses [climate denial, racism, sexism and homophobia](https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/politique/190326/racisme-antisemitisme-sexisme-homophobie-le-rn-n-toujours-pas-fait-le-menage-dans-ses-rangs?ref=ilesanglo-normandes.com) and faces controversies over its choices of candidates and representatives. --- ### A far-right government would reshape the relationships between France and the islands Much of what islanders value in their relationship with France — the cultural ties, partnerships and connections between our communities — not to mention the holidays, would be impacted if the National Rally gains power and furthers divisions within French society. A far-right government would reshape the political, commercial and cultural relationships between France and the islands, as well as further entrench a media for the billionaire class. --- ### Supporting France's independent outlets is a matter of democratic urgency > "Supporting France's independent media is a matter of democratic urgency" - Acrimed The need for the islands to access a diversity of independent news sources in France, is critical. Working in collaboration with independent media, sharing stories that connect us, while reporting attempts to divide, please support **îles anglo-normandes.** [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d1/c7/d1c79ccb-3da4-4ed2-8fda-9b60db236f61/content/images/2026/08/ILES-ANGLO-NORMANDE-13----final-logo-1.png)](#/portal/signup) Please support if you can, merci bian [Become a subscriber ](#/portal/signup) ---