Study on the ‘public interest’ of French broadcast content

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the concept of public interest in broadcasting, which has been approached only from a policy or legislative perspective in Korea, through analysis of the program content itself. To this end, this study focuses on French broadcasting, which has a long history of public service, has learned the concept of ‘public interest’ during its long growth process, and has specifically put this concept into practice through program production. Analysis of French TV programs that have been broadcast over the past 10 years categorizes the concept of public interest that French broadcasting has embodied into the following three categories. The first is the characteristic of ‘freedom of speech: ‘participation’ and ‘generality’ in the public sphere’ shown by discussion programs or talk shows. The second is the characteristic of ‘transmission of cultural identity’, which is shown even in entertainment programs. The third is the characteristic of ‘social capital: spreading the value of social solidarity’ shown in documentary or discussion programs. In addition, we examine how French broadcasting is implementing public interest at a time when digital media such as YouTube or Instagram are becoming the center of the media environment, and a digital public social media called 'Culture Prime' created by public institutions.