Corbett3

FRE 105
Handout 12: The French Media médias.gif (6008 octets)

TV----THE PRESS----THE INTERNET/The MINITEL----FRANCE, INFORMATION & CULTURE.

News in France? http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/
see PRESS ROOM
see DISCOVERING FRANCE : you can find many rubrics and topics of interest about France, E.g. politics, elections, the media.....
THE MEDIA IN FRANCE: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/media_2684/index.html
News online France24 : http://www.france24.com/en/

Questionnaire

TV/Radio
1) Comment on France's approach to TV/Radio/the Press.

2) What are the characteristics of the French (& European) TV system? Compare with the US system.

3) Among the following, cite 4 French public TV channels
TF1/ France 2/ France 3/ Canal+/ La Cinquième (The 5th)/ ARTE /INA/ M6
-New projects TNT: expansion of cable network (numeric system)

4) What is ARTE?
5) What is particular about Canal+? http://www.canalplus.fr

6) What is the CSA? Do you understand its function?( =FCC)

7) French TV licence fee is high: French TV licence ($122). France invests a lot in its public broadcasting. Why?

8) TV programs in France. Choices. Any comments?

THE PRESS.-------Economics of the Press
                The written press in France is the 22nd largest in the world and seventh largest in
                Europe, with 157 copies sold per 1,000 inhabitants. 49% of the French read a
                newspaper every day, compared with 55% twenty years ago. In 1998, the average
                amount spent on newspapers and magazines by households was in the region of $132.
                On top of the economic crisis and competition from television, which has led to a drop
                in newspaper advertising, the sector has been hit by the bans or severe restrictions on
                tobacco and alcohol advertising. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/france/gb/edu/edu13.html
1) Cite some names of newspapers & magazines. Identify their possible publics & political affiliations (Right or Left?)
e.g .Le Monde (neutral, towards left)/ Le Figaro (Right)/ Liberation (Left)

2) Identify a popular press newspaper

3) What is the French equivalent of REUTERS ?(French news agency)

THE INTERNET: FRANCE TELECOM's WANADOO
The MINITEL

What is the Minitel? Give characteristics of this service.

FRANCE, INFORMATION, PROTECTIONISM and CULTURE.
"During the final phase of the GATT (general agreement of trade and tarifs) negotiations, France, acting in agreement with its
European Union and Francophone partners, insisted that special conditions must apply to cultural goods and services in international trade." ( http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/france/gb/edu/edu12.html)

READ: Battle for cultural diversity (source: LABEL FRANCE 2000, no38 )
1--What were the GATT /WTO discussions about?
               During the final phase of the GATT trade
               negotiations, France, acting in agreement with its
               European Union and Francophone partners,
               insisted that special conditions must apply to
               cultural goods and services in international trade.
               The above article( website above) about French cultural priorities
               makes it clear that this stand was in no way
               dictated by any desire to limit cultural exchanges.
               On the contrary, by asserting that culture cannot be
               considered as an ordinary merchandise, and by
               supporting the right of every state to encourage its own creative artists, France's
               intention was to help maintain the diverse traditions which make up the cultural heritage
               of humanity. This ambition also fuels French policy within international bodies
               dedicated to promoting culture, such as the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
               France's goal is to facilitate freedom of movement for works of the mind, while at the
               same time ensuring that all cultures enjoy equal dignity and are enabled to safeguard the
               conditions necessary for their survival and constant renewal.

2) France protects its culture against the English invasion of the MEDIA.
e.g.40% of Media products aired on the radio/TV must be in French/ or French -made
(i.e. from the French-speaking world). Give your opinion.

reference articles
http://www.ambafrance-us.org/atoz/culture.asp
http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr (in Engl.)

2009, T.Saint Paul