The Andrew Marr Show is a political show broadcast on BBC One every Sunday at 9:00am. Two days ago, Ofcom received a series of complaints after Marr, the show's host, interviewed Marine Le Pen (extreme right candidate for the French presidential elections) on Remembrance Sunday, November 13th 2016.
Following this interview later in the day, Marr published a video on Twitter defending his position. Marine Le Pen is important political figure in the upcoming French elections. He argues that the best way to remember those who have died for their country is not to fail to report the news. Take a look:
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| Marine Le Pen interviewed by Andrew Marr on 13th November 2016 |
Following this interview later in the day, Marr published a video on Twitter defending his position. Marine Le Pen is important political figure in the upcoming French elections. He argues that the best way to remember those who have died for their country is not to fail to report the news. Take a look:
— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) 13 November 2016
A few days later, Ofcom ruled that Marr's interview was 'justified', arguably motivated by Trump's recent success in the US elections.
This affair, however, caught my attention because it exemplifies how television impacts the current political scene. What role does it play? How are we influenced by it? This blog intends to focus on this by looking closely at the upcoming French elections. More specifically, it will consider the role that french television content plays in influencing the judgment of voters in politics. In this current convergent landscape in media, this blog will place a strong emphasis on the web and its relationship to television, to determine what role it has played lately in our understanding of political issues. By focusing on a French case study, I hope to get a broader sense of how media is changing politics worldwide.
This affair, however, caught my attention because it exemplifies how television impacts the current political scene. What role does it play? How are we influenced by it? This blog intends to focus on this by looking closely at the upcoming French elections. More specifically, it will consider the role that french television content plays in influencing the judgment of voters in politics. In this current convergent landscape in media, this blog will place a strong emphasis on the web and its relationship to television, to determine what role it has played lately in our understanding of political issues. By focusing on a French case study, I hope to get a broader sense of how media is changing politics worldwide.
In order to do so, we need a bit of context on what's to come. On 23rd April and 7th May 2017, the french population will decide who replaces Francois Hollande as the next French president (executive branch). In the 1st round (23 Avril 2017), voters choose between any candidate representing an eligible political group: Francois Fillon for Les Republicains (Conservatives), Marine Le Pen for Front National (National Front) etc.). For the second round (7th May 2017), voters choose between the two candidates who won the most votes in the first round.
This is a vote to choose the head of the executive branch (semi-presidential structure theorized by Montesquieu in 1748 in his treatise of political theory The Spirits of The Law (De l'esprit des lois)). There are three-branches: executive (the president and his cabinet), legislative (House of Representatives and Senate), and judicial (Supreme Court/Court of Appeal/District Court).
However in my opinion, the three-branch system is no longer valid. Andre Santini (ex-Minister in charge of Communications), argues that media constitutes is a 4th power that counteracts the Legislative branch. The debate no longer takes place in the House of Representatives or the Senate, because the media provides a direct link between the government and the population. It informs, as well as influences through its structure, the way we view politics. Let's find out how.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jul/05/media-should-rethink-coverage-in-wake-of-brexit-vote-says-justin-webb
http://www.debatingeurope.eu/focus/arguments-britain-leaving-eu/#.WItu0IiLTnA
http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/740226/Andrew-Marr-Show-Marine-Le-Pen-Ofcom-BBC-Remembrance-Sunday-interview
http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/740226/Andrew-Marr-Show-Marine-Le-Pen-Ofcom-BBC-Remembrance-Sunday-interview
