Thomas Gadisseux Appointed RTBF News Director Amid Crisis

Thomas Gadisseux has been appointed as the new Director of News and Sports at RTBF, the Belgian French-language public broadcaster, in a decision that immediately triggered a political crisis on the broadcaster’s board of directors. The 43-year-old journalist from Mouscron will begin his six-year term on June 1, 2026, succeeding Jean-Pierre Jacqmin who held the position for 18 years.

Appointment After Rigorous Selection

Gadisseux emerged as the sole remaining candidate following a multi-month selection process that began in February 2026. An initial pool of approximately ten internal and external candidates was narrowed to four finalists, who were auditioned on May 11 by a Permanent Committee. An international jury of media experts — including Griet de Craen of VRT, Christelle Crepeau of Radio Canada, and Thierry Thuillier of TF1 Group — evaluated the candidates, who also underwent managerial skills assessments.

According to RTBF, the journalists’ representative body, the Société des Journalistes (SDJ), issued a positive non-binding opinion on Gadisseux’s project before the Board of Directors validated his appointment on Friday, May 29.

A Three-Pillar Vision for RTBF’s Future

Gadisseux’s submitted project rests on three pillars: rigor, visibility, and openness. Under “rigor,” he promises reliable and verified information with demanding impartiality. “Visibility” means impact journalism across multiple formats and all RTBF channels — television, radio, RTBF Actus, RTBF Auvio, and social media — targeting all audiences. “Openness” envisions greater transparency about editorial processes, what he calls an “open kitchen” approach, along with outreach to schools, local media, and civil society.

“It’s an immense responsibility, and I fully measure it,” Gadisseux said. “My appointment comes as we enter Mediasquare, and that’s not insignificant. It’s a new building, a new breath, and it’s also the right time to write a new editorial chapter.”

Speaking about the challenges facing modern journalism, he added: “In a media space shaken by distrust and AI, RTBF must more than ever embody reliable and impartial journalism. We don’t necessarily have to be the first to break the news — we have to be the most solid.”

Outgoing director Jean-Pierre Jacqmin said Gadisseux’s designation “should allow both the continued independence of the newsroom and the necessary evolution of news and sports formats.”

MR Board Resignations Trigger Governance Crisis

The appointment was immediately overshadowed by a political crisis. Georges-Louis Bouchez, president of the MR (Mouvement Réformateur), announced the resignation of all five MR administrators from RTBF’s Board of Directors, citing “erratic functioning” and lack of transparency under Board President Joëlle Milquet (Les Engagés).

As L’Avenir reported, Bouchez stated: “Given the erratic functioning of the RTBF Board of Directors and the lack of willingness for consensus and transparency, the five MR administrators have resigned and will not be replaced at this stage.”

A key trigger for the MR’s decision was the exclusion of Laurent Haulotte, former RTL information director, from the selection process on diploma grounds late in the procedure — a condition the MR argues should have been verified at the start. The RTBF Board said it “took note” of the resignations, and internal sources indicate the broadcaster continues to function normally.

Political Reactions

Minister of Media Jacqueline Galant (MR) wished Gadisseux success but expressed “concern” about the Board events, stating she would meet with Board President Milquet in the coming days. Paul Magnette, president of the PS (Socialist Party), denounced the MR’s actions as “a new attack against autonomous public service.”

The crisis comes one day after the publication of the National Survey 2026, a major annual poll showing the MR losing nearly a third of its voters in Wallonia and Brussels.

What’s Next

Gadisseux takes office on June 1 as RTBF prepares to move into its new Mediasquare headquarters, a transition he has described as a “new breath” for the organization. The governance vacuum left by the MR’s resignation raises questions about how strategic decisions will be made and whether the Federation government will need to intervene to restructure RTBF’s board.

With declining public trust in media, the rise of AI, and ongoing political pressures, Gadisseux faces the challenge of steering RTBF’s news and sports operations through a period of both editorial transformation and governance uncertainty.