The francophone media in Belgium: A question of identity

Abstract

Abstract In Belgium, the political and linguistic divisions make problematic the assertion of a national or regional identity. The political evolution entailed a quadruple division of the media: linguistics; public channels versus private; local channels versus national; and national versus foreign countries. In this context, Flanders became a foreign ground for the French speakers, and the opposite is also true. When a subject is treated, it is as if it was about foreign policy, with simplifications, by resorting to stereotypes. Taken in these intercommunity cleavages, the Belgian media reveal more of the identity crisis of a country near the separatism than they build a strong identity. The media work as relays of their respective public opinions. That raises the question of the role of media belonging to different linguistic areas but living in the same political entity, and their difficulty to find a balance between defense of the interests of their community and relation distanced from the national stakes.