[Peace-discuss] Fw: [socialistdiscussion] Director Le Monde Diplomatique urges less 'journalism'

[David Johnson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: farooq sulehria 
To: socialistdiscussion 
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 4:33 PM
Subject: [socialistdiscussion] Director Le Monde Diplomatique urges less 'journalism'


  

Less 'Journalism' please

As long as ratings dominate everything, like in entertainment, the making of a subprime crisis will always be overshadowed by the death of Lady Di
“What audiences find interesting is not something that comes naturally. The media can awake interest in something if they work on it,” says Serge Halimi.  In this age of internet, he thinks, we are ‘processing more news, more news, and more’ but ‘we are not thinking’.
Director of Le Monde Diplomatique, Sege Halimi has written several books, including one  on the French press, Les nouveaux chiens de garde and another on the French left in the 20th century - Quand la gauche essayait. On March 2, he gave a lecture at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. A day after, he was interviewed by the Viewpoint in London. Excerpts:
Certain media academics claim that the rise of Southern actors like Al Jazeera, Globo, Zee TV, or Bollywood has delivered the end of media imperialism. How do you assess this claim? 
To some extent I would agree with the analysis. The global media used to be dominated by the United States and western vision, in particular, when, for instance, conflict in the Middle East was involved. It is true that media outlets from South offer a different view, a different perspective. At the same time, they may package the news in the same fashion. They show an exactly same interest in what is sensational and are equally keen about good ratings. In a sense, same commercial rules apply to the Southern actors as they apply in case of CNN etc. In depth analysis is often missing.
In your lecture at SOAS, you cited an example from France where leading dailies like Le Monde, Liberacion, and Li Figaro were asking their readers to vote ‘Yes’ in 2005 Referendum. But 55% voted No. Your conclusion is that mainstream press does not reflect public opinion. However, mainstream media claim that they sell what audiences demand. The global success of Big Brother or Idol etc is cited as a proof. What do you say about these contradictory positions?
 In case of French Referendum, what big media sold was not popular. It was proved by the vote. These three newspapers campaigned for weeks, advocating a certain viewpoint and asking their readers to vote ‘Yes’. But a majority voted No. Hence, it is not a hypothesis but a fact.
When it comes to shows like Big Brother or Idol, may be people like them. I am, however, not as interested in this side of the television. I am speaking of news. What may apply to television entertainment, should not apply when it comes to news. In that case, one has to draw a sharp distinction between what may appear "interesting" yet be shallow or meaningless (like royal family news) and what is important but may demand more of the viewer (who is also a citizen). As long as ratings dominate everything, like in entertainment, the making of a subprime crisis will always be overshadowed by the death of Lady Di. 
 
 
Read on
http://www.viewpointonline.net/less-journalism-please.html

Farooq Sulehria

21 Woodside Avenue
 
Nansen Village
 
London.
 
N 12 8AQ
 





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