In France, the written press has always been politically engaged

Media have long played a central role in expressing public opinion, especially with radio and television. Today, the media have become independent, strengthening their role, including with the internet. Public opinion has made its existence and influence visible, particularly through surveys. The relationships and interactions are therefore more difficult, even if they are more numerous, but still essential to contemporary political communication where we find the triangle of political actors, the media, and public opinion. Some media outlets clearly display their positions, as seen in a recent example: The Inrockuptibles in the May issue, with an article titled “Culture against the fachos, our anti-Bardella dossier” which openly takes a stance against the far right. Arnaud Mercier, a professor of information and communication sciences, reflects on these patterns:

“I don’t think that one can say that the press should take a position. That is, nobody has the authority to hold a gun to their head and tell them that given the moment, it is mandatory. However, it is certain that in newsrooms, some consider these kinds of questions and realize that the stakes are decisive, major and that something must be done. Knowing that it is still a matter of debate, one must realize this. In newsrooms, some think that they are affirming their editorial line, saying something, but at the same time, they do not want to offend a part of their readership. Will their readers not think that they are being infantilized? So it is sometimes quite complex. For example, Le Parisien, which knows that it has many readers who may vote for the National Rally, did not explicitly take a position for Jacques Chirac after April 21, 2002, but at the same time, it did headline Jacques Chirac’s victory in the second round: “France has won”, implying that it was not the right France if one had voted for Jean-Marie Le Pen. So some think that it is decisive, that it is important, but sometimes they hesitate and find ways to convey the message without explicitly stating it.”

Context: The passage discusses the evolving role of media in expressing public opinion and the challenges faced by media outlets when taking a stance on political matters. Fact Check: The specific example of Le Parisien and its coverage of Jacques Chirac after the 2002 election is accurately portrayed in the article.

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