>Since 2008 the channel has been wholly owned by the French government

Explain to me why reading news from the state is a good thing? Kinda shocked that people here applaud state-owned media (there is no difference between "government-owned" or "state-owned").

The government it can use its media to influence its citizen and try it to change election results or create propangada.

France is executive heavy democracy similar to US and Latin American States. This is a very big flaw and state owned media might be contribute to.

> In a democracy, how is this a bad thing?

Because democracy is effectively mob rule, which means minority voices may get shut out.

What is the distinction between government and state?

As for your question, Russia is nominally a democracy but I wouldn't trust the veracity of their state media reports.