Challenging Hate Speech: ALDA’s Stand Against CNEWS’s Problematic Broadcast
Get the Trolls Out! is dedicated to actively challenging media narratives that perpetuate stereotypes and marginalise communities. Led by the Media Diversity Institute (MDI), and in collaboration with six partner organisations in Europe, GTTO is committed to addressing issues of hate speech and religious discrimination in the media.
What Happened? ALDA Files Complaint Against CNEWS
Recently, our project partner, ALDA (European Association for Local Democracy), an organisation advocating for democracy and human rights, sent a complaint letter to CNEWS, a prominent French news channel, regarding a video featuring commentator Pascal Praud. This letter was sent with the hope of sparking a crucial conversation about responsible media commentary and the need for more inclusive representation.
Why CNEWS's Broadcast is Troubling
Screenshot from CNEWS April 11.
On April 11, CNEWS published a video in which Pascal Praud commented on a knife attack in Bordeaux, France.
The day before, a 25-year-old Afghan stabbed two French men of Algerian origin, reproaching them for drinking alcohol on the evening of Eid, marking the end of Ramadan. This incident follows a series of violent events in France in the context of the Muslim fasting period.
Pascal Praud, CNEWS
Mr. Praud’s commentary was problematic because it linked immigration and Muslim religious practices to violence.
The accumulation of incidents, having in common the context of Ramadan, prompted news commentator Pascal Praud to denounce the import of “customs, practices and habits [...] to France.”
In its complaint letter, ALDA highlighted “several problematic passages in this video that can be interpreted as incitement to religious and xenophobic hatred. Mr. Praud’s commentary generalised violent acts to specific religious practices, stigmatizing an entire community and reinforcing negative prejudices.”
Mr. Praud’s commentary was problematic because it linked immigration and Muslim religious practices to violence, fostering fear and hatred and suggesting such behaviours are inherent to these communities. His assertions oversimplified complex issues and unfairly blamed immigration for violent events. By generalising from isolated incidents, the video reinforced negative stereotypes, heightening social tensions and discriminatory behaviour. These elements of speech are inappropriate and exacerbate social divisions, perpetuating negative stereotypes against marginalised communities.
What Action Was Taken by ALDA?
ALDA emphasised the importance of responsible media representation and called for CNEWS to either modify the problematic passages or completely remove the video. Their request, communicated through a formal complaint, urged CNEWS to ensure that their content does not contribute to spreading hateful and discriminatory speech.
How Did CNEWS Respond to ALDA’s Complaint?
UPDATE (29.05.24): ALDA received a response from CNews, which claimed that Pascal Praud did not attack any particular religion or population in his editorial and instead took a nuanced approach on immigration, and therefore, that our concern is groundless. Despite this answer, we stand by our initial complaint. Pascal Praud, in his editorial, clearly linked immigration and criminality. The mention of "a certain immigration, not all" does not, as CNews believes, constitute a nuanced approach. It only vaguely distinguishes between "good" and "bad" migrants, based on personal assumptions that have no substantial backing — a distinction that only reinforces prejudices against migrants and muslim people.
CNews' answer is a clear example of how hate speech perpetrators often employ carefully-chosen words that skirt the lines of the law, shaping their narrative in a way that avoids direct accusations of spreading hate to avoid prosecution. We will rigorously continue to monitor CNews and other similar media outlets to ensure that anti-religious rhetoric is no longer broadcast.
Ready to Combat Hate Speech in the Media?
As the debate on media portrayals of marginalised communities continues, instances like these underscore the need for vigilance and accountability in ensuring respectful representation. To combat xenophobic and anti-Muslim hateful narratives, visit the link below to access our guides on harmful stereotypes and take action against discriminatory rhetoric.
Together, we can promote understanding and foster a more inclusive media landscape:
https://getthetrollsout.org/resources/guides
https://getthetrollsout.org/resources/online-hate-speech
