Broadcasting & Democracy In France

Out Of Print... International and Comparative Broadcasting Series... This book explores the relationship between broadcasting as an institution and the exercise of democracy in France. One of the great tests of a healthy liberal democracy is the effectiveness of its broadcasting system, as it is obviously vital that an electorate has easy and prompt access to news, objectively presented. Ruth Thomas gives an account of the struggle that has taken place against Government interference with the selection and presentation of programmes, concluding with an assessment of the changes following the 1974 reforms. She looks at the relationship between French broadcasting and commercial interests, competition with private stations around her frontiers and the stringent controls on advertising which exist to protect the French public. This book will be of particular interest to students of French civilisation, who will discover that the broadcasting system will reveal a great deal about French society as a whole.