In a press release on May 17th the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA) announced that only one application has been received for the chair of France Médias Monde (FMM): from the current CEO, Marie-Christine Saragosse, who will therefore be the sole candidate for her own replacement.
There are two reasons for the lack of competitors to run FMM, which includes France 24, RFI and Monte Carlo Doualiya. Appointed in 2012, Ms. Saragosse is judged very favourably by the whole broadcasting profession, in particular the CSA. It was under her mandate that the editorial offices of France 24 and RFI were brought together in shared premises at Issy-les-Moulineaux. Moreover, the audience ratings have been very good since last year when, for the first time, the Arabic version of France 24 (launched in 2007) became the most-watched Arabic-language news channel in North Africa.
The second reason is that the CSA decided to disclose publicly the list of candidates, an unprecedented form of appointment. Until now, for example with the appointment of a new head of France Télévisions in 2015, the CSA has always concealed candidates’ identity, officially to spare those who were working in another organisation.
The project for 2017-2022 set-out by Ms. Saragosse is in line with the shared objectives and resources contract adopted last December. As of this summer the CFI, the French agency for media cooperation, must be supported by FMM. Currently joint-owned by France Télévisions and Arte, it will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of FMM.
For the rest, Ms. Saragosse, whose re-election is not in doubt, intends to establish France 24 in South America and develop it in Africa, while also strengthening synergies with Franceinfo, the public news channel. The CSA will vote on her appointment on July 4th.
Sources: Le Monde, Satellifax, L’Express
