DECISION-MAKERS AND PROFESSIONALS - LINES OF FRACTURE

Two social worlds ''professionals and decision-maker'' coexist in television. Except for a subgroup of older professionals who now hold top positions in programming, the decision-makers' world is grounded in an economic, political or administrative rationality, which has very little to do with the values defended by professionals. The decision-making elite's values prevail over professional programmers'. As a consequence, a deep cleavage runs through French television; and no authentic debate about social issues can take place on TV.