France reprimands TV networks over terrorist attacks coverage, after protests from families

PARIS – France’s broadcasting watchdog has issued formal warnings to 16 French television and radio stations over their coverage of terrorist attacks, hostage-takings and police standoffs last month.

Some stations were given simple warnings, while some were issued formal notices that could lead to financial sanctions in the case of a repeat offence.

The watchdog agency, known as CSA, accused several stations of putting the lives of hostages in danger by revealing sensitive information amid intense, blow-by-blow coverage of the Jan. 7-9 events.

It also reprimanded two stations for broadcasting images of radical gunmen shooting a policeman in the head outside the offices of newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

That attack led to a manhunt, hostage-takings and police standoffs at a kosher market and printing plant. Twenty people, including the gunmen, were killed.