A fierce debate is raging in France over reforming public media, and staff at FRANCE 24 parent company France Médias Monde as well as France Télévisions and Radio France are striking on Monday against a proposed merger of France’s public broadcasting sector championed by culture minister Rachida Dati, reports FRANCE 24.
FRANCE 24 internet and TV journalists have joined the strike, which will cause a temporary disruption in news coverage on Monday and Tuesday.
A new proposed holding company would unite France Médias Monde (FMM) with France Télévisions, Radio France and the National Audiovisual Institute (INA) under the direction of a single chief executive officer.
The government decided, however, that France Médias Monde, the international arm of the French public broadcasting system that includes FRANCE 24 and RFI, would be excluded from the scope of the holding company when the proposed reform was considered by lawmakers in June.
But unions say the government has “clearly” left the door open to the eventual integration of FMM into the holding company by 2028.