Sensation Over Substance: Why the Media Ignores Education

Analysis from data.ina.fr reveals that French national media has marginalized education in public discourse, despite the sector receiving the nation’s largest budget. The word “école” (school) ranked 95th in 2024 media usage and disappeared entirely from the top 100 list in 2025, replaced by sensationalist themes and international conflicts.

Journalist Stéphane Blakowski reports that French television news discussed Donald Trump three times more than Emmanuel Macron over the last 12 months. This trend suggests that domestic policy issues have become secondary to high-conflict narratives.

Why is education missing from French media?

Media attention operates as a limited resource, according to Blakowski. The data.ina.fr rankings show that “political” (3rd), “minister” (7th), and “government” (14th) dominate the airwaves, while terms like “student,” “teacher,” and “university” are absent.

International conflicts also saturate the space. Donald Trump ranks 5th, followed by “War” (12th), “Ukraine” (17th), “Israel” (40th), and “Gaza” (61st). Anxiety-driven topics such as “Security” (24th) and “Police” (49th) receive priority over structural educational issues.

Did You Know? In his 1987 book L’Art du the Deal, Donald Trump stated that the press is “always eager for a good story” and that being provocative or controversial ensures media coverage, regardless of whether the reporting is positive or negative.

How does media coverage impact social fractures?

The lack of coverage persists despite international rankings indicating that the French national education system is failing its core mission. Blakowski notes that while reforms since 1968 aimed to increase equal opportunity, the system is now among those that correct social inequalities the least.

Diplomas have become primary markers of social hierarchy. Economic elite graduates tend to lean right, cultural elite graduates often lean left, and those with the fewest diplomas majority-vote for the Rassemblement National.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that the media’s preference for conflict-driven narratives creates a systemic blind spot. By prioritizing “spectacle” over the nation’s largest budget expenditure, the press may be ignoring the very institution that shapes the social fractures they report on daily.

What could happen in the 2027 campaign?

The disconnect between media focus and political platforms may intensify as the 2027 presidential election approaches. Gabriel Attal and Édouard Philippe both claim that education will be the priority of their 2027 programs.

If current media mechanisms continue, the most determining subject for France’s future could remain the least discussed. This could potentially skew the public debate, as the “sensational” continues to outweigh structural policy discussions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How has the visibility of “school” changed in French media?
According to data.ina.fr, the word “école” was ranked 95th in 2024 and completely disappeared from the top 100 most used words in 2025.

Which topics currently dominate French news cycles?
The media space is saturated by political figures (Macron, ministers), international conflicts (Trump, Ukraine, Gaza), and anxiety-inducing themes like security and police.

What is the relationship between education and voting patterns in France?
The source states that diplomas serve as social markers: economic elites lean right, cultural elites lean left, and those with fewer diplomas primarily vote for the Rassemblement National.

Should the media prioritize national budget expenditures over sensational international news?