France's Public Broadcasters Sue CNews and Others Amidst Political and Media Tensions

On November 19, 2025, France Télévisions and Radio France launched defamation lawsuits against private media outlets CNews, Europe 1, and Journal du dimanche (JDD), all belonging to the Bolloré media group. This legal action follows accusations from Bolloré-affiliated media that public broadcasters exhibited a left-leaning bias, escalating an ongoing media rivalry in France.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati publicly criticized the way this legal conflict unfolded, lamenting that her ministry was neither informed nor consulted about the lawsuits involving public audiovisual entities funded by taxpayers. During questions in the National Assembly, Dati emphasized the necessity of transparency in such matters, stating the Ministry of Culture should have been kept in the loop, especially given the public money implicated. She also highlighted the fragile relationship between the Ministry and public broadcasters, which has been strained by her proposal to merge Radio France, France Télévisions, and INA into a holding company, France Médias—a proposal that recently lost parliamentary support.

Responding to the lawsuits, Pascal Praud, host of CNews’s "L’heure des pros 2," stood firmly behind his channel. Praud underscored that public broadcasters are often subjects of criticism because of their dominant status and implied that his outlet’s attacks are largely retaliatory. He condemned a recent France 5 segment that mocked CNews personalities, calling the portrayal derogatory and sexist, notably the joke about Elisabeth Lévy being an alcoholic. Lawyer Gilles-William Goldnadel, present during Praud’s broadcast, expressed his willingness to testify in court, declaring he has been targeted by media mockery similar to that faced by CNews.

The dispute reveals deep divisions within France’s media landscape, marked by political power struggles and contrasting media narratives. The lawsuit and reactions highlight the tensions between public and private media, and between government oversight and editorial independence. As the legal proceedings develop, both sides prepare for continued confrontation in court and public discourse.