Kuhn, Raymond (1980) The politics of broadcasting in France 1974-1978. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The subject matter of this thesis is the 1974-75 reorganisation
of the French state broadcasting services which abolished the ORTF
and the consequences of this reform for the relationship between the
Government and broadcasting during the early years of the Giscardian
presidency.
The originality of the thesis lies in the fact that this
reorganisation is placed in an explicitly political context,
the election of the first non-Gaullist President of the Fifth
Republic and the ensuing conflict between the Gaullist and Giscardian
components of the governing coalition. The thesis also makes a
significant contribution to the limited amount of academic literature
on French broadcasting in general.
Placed within the framework of the debate about the role
of broadcasting in liberal democracies, the thesis examines the
applicability of two antithetical models, the "fourth estate"
and "state control" models, to the French broadcasting system
since 1974.
Neither is found to be satisfactory. Our detailed study of
government-broadcasting relations since the reform demonstrates
that the political executive, and within the executive particularly
the President of the Republic, has at its disposal a variety of
means through which to control those aspects of broadcasting in
which it has an interest, ranging from determing the legal framework
of the state monopoly to appointing political sympathisers to
key decision-making posts. Neither the broadcasting staff,
the management or the boards of governors of the separate companies
set up by the 1974 reform has the freedom of manoeuvre necessary
for broadcasting in France to be regarded as a "fourth estate."
On the other hand, the "state control" model is too vague and
monolithic, unable to allow for change except of a totally radical
kind. On the basis of a wide variety of published and unpublished
material and interviews with members of broadcasting management,
staff, journalists, politicians and civil servants, this thesis shows
that government-broadcasting relations in France have altered greatly
in form and to a limited extent in substance since 1974. For example,
the direct, overt controls which were so much of a feature of de Gaulle's
presidency have given way to a reliance on indirect controls,
particularly via partisan appointments within the broadcasting
companies. This is especially the case with control over news
output which has been largely internalised within the radio and
television companies.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1990 Broadcasting
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Broadcasting -- France -- History -- 20th century, Broadcasting policy -- France -- History -- 20th century, France -- Politics and government -- 1974-1981
Official Date:	July 1980
Dates:	Date Event July 1980 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Politics and International Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Campbell, Ian
Sponsors:	Social Science Research Council (Great Britain)
Extent:	2 v. (643 leaves)
Language:	eng

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