Abstract
This paper reflects the concept of populism, based on an analysis of a media editorial line and the increasing populist, demagogic discourses present on mainstream media in France. It presents the concept of populism and its current problems, then offers a methodological reflection centered on the desire to emphasize the role of media on the rise of right-wing populism and far-right ideology. The aim is to study the role of media, which can promote populist communication. This study doesn’t focus on contextual factors such as the electoral success of right-wing populist parties; instead, it explores other aspects, such as media editorial line and opinion journalism, largely independent of political reality which can increase the chances of populist rhetoric being included in media coverage. Therefore, this paper offers a brief review of the communicative aspect of populism. It discusses the rise of populist rhetoric in the media in France and the role of the CNews television channel in mobilizing and promoting far-right ideologies in the French political and media landscape. The results highlight how CNews, with its far-right columnists, such as Eric Zemmour, contribute to the rise of right-wing populist rhetoric in the French media landscape; since the increase of its audience coincides with the rise of right-wing populist and far-right rhetoric in the French political spectrum.
Highlights
It presents the concept of populism and its current problems, offers a methodological reflection centered on the desire to emphasize the role of media on the rise of right-wing populism and far-right ideology
Let’s emphasize our problem: what is the role of the CNews channel on the rise of right-wing populism in France? CNews seems to become the primary tool of communication for the far-right and right-wing movements in France
This study has shown that a media influenced by the rise of national populism and the growing success of alternative media, such as social networks, adopt a far-right editorial line
Summary
The hypothesis posed is that media coverage plays a crucial role in the rise of right-wing populist rhetoric (Walgrave & de Swert, 2004) and promoting far-right ideology in France. In France, CNews editorial line and its communication strategy reflect the reality of the trivialization of the far-right ideology in the French media landscape. The case of CNews is more than evidence of the rising populist rhetoric in mainstream media (Valeurs Actuelles, 2020) This strategy is part of a particular context where far-right and populist parties are more popular and social networks have become alternative media for many people. Following the framework of discursive opportunities (Gamson, 1988), this study argues that media and political communication may favor specific rambling messages; and the success of far-right and populist parties might influence the editorial line of mainstream media. Our paper explores Eric Zemmour’s communication style and his different strategies used to increase CNews audiences and mobilize the right-wing and far-right public
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