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RFI strikes against public media reform

Article published on the 2008-10-22 Latest update 2008-10-22 15:01 TU

RFI on strike(Photo: L. Mouaoued / RFI)

RFI on strike
(Photo: L. Mouaoued / RFI)

Radio France Internationale is on a one-day strike on Wednesday to protest the reform of public media approved by cabinet today. The sweeping reforms, proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy one year ago, affect the financing of French public media. All paid advertising in the public media will be eliminated.

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The advertising revenue made up a large chunk of French public media budget.

In order to make up for the 450 million euros in lost revenue for 2009, a nine per cent tax will be levied on telecom companies and a three per cent tax will be be levied on the advertising that will be shown on the private French television stations. The percentages for French public media will reflect inflation rates.

The second part of the Sarkozy plan is that the head of France Television will not be named by the council in charge of public media. The French president will name the chief of the group for a five-year term after making his pick known to the council and the media parliamentary commissions.

Left-wing and right-wing politicians have disagreed with this move, saying that it will reflect a loss of independence if the those in power make the chief selection.