La presse néglige les femmes

En surfant sur le site du Monde Diplomatique, je suis tombée sur cet article intitulé ‘La presse néglige les femmes’. Selon une étude de l’Association des Femmes Journalistes en France, il semblerait que les voix des femmes sont sous-représentées dans la presse francaise (seulement 17%), et que lorsqu’elles sont mentionnées, elles le sont souvent de manière dévalorisante:

“Outre leur infériorité numérique, les femmes ont bien souvent une présence médiatique quasi ectoplasmique : une sur six est anonyme, contre un homme sur 33 (soit cinq fois plus) ; une sur cinq ne voit pas sa profession mentionnée, contre un homme sur 20 ; moins d’une sur deux est citée directement, contre plus d’un homme sur trois. Une sur cinq est présentée avec un lien familial, contre un homme sur 16.”

A propos du Code de la Sentinelle

La publication de ce code de déontologie est, en effet, une première dans le paysage médiatique local. Une bonne initiative pour crédibiliser et consolider le journalisme local. La mise à disposition au public lecteur est surtout cruciale car elle permet une forme de transparence et permet aux lecteurs de jauger l’honnêteté de son journal. Il aurait d’ailleurs été souhaitable que ce code soit acessible en permanence, par exemple sur le site web des journaux du groupe (L’express et Cinq Plus dimanche) pour permettre une consultation et une utlisation continue.

Deux petites remarques sur le contenu du code:

(1) La section consacrée au rectificatif et au droit de réponse est un peu mince, surtout en ce qui concerne le droit de réponse qui n’a droit qu’à une seule ligne (‘Toute personne mise en cause peut prétendre à un droit de réponse’)… L’histoire de dit pas si la rédaction ou le journaliste a droit à un droit de réponse au droit de réponse. Car, c’est une pratique commune d’accompagner les réponses de ces fameux NDLR (soit Note de la Rédaction) souvent mis en valeur typographiquement par rapport à la réponse de celui qui se sent lésé…

(2) La section sur la séparation entre information et publicité est également équivoque: ‘Le journaliste n’écrit pas de publireportages. S’il accepte de le faire, il ne les signe pas.’ N’est-ce pas un peu contradictoire? Un publireportage, ca n’est après tout que de la pub (déguisée en reportage)! Un journaliste ne devrait jamais accepter le rôle de publicitaire! Un point, c’est tout.
Même remarque pour la sous-partie consacrée aux relations publiques (‘Il ne rédige des articles pour des revues d’entreprise qu’avec l’accord de son rédacteur en chef’).

Avant-dernière remarque: est-ce que ce code vaut aussi pour Radio One (qui n’appartient certes pas à la Sentinelle mais à Viva Voce, dont La Sentinelle est actionnaire)?

Dernière remarque: la mise en pratique d’une éthique journalistique ne s’arrête pas à la publication d’un code. Un code est un outil qui permet de guider le journaliste dans l’exercice de son métier. Il est aussi un outil de référence qui permet de vérifier à posteriori si l’esprit du code a été respecté (un ‘checkpoint’ en quelque sorte).

Il doit être complémenté par une batterie d’autres mesures dans le long-terme: le dialogue, la formation, la juste rémunération, les conditions internes d’emploi au sein de la rédaction, etc.

Il y aussi toute une liste de M.A.R.S (Moyens d’Assurer la Reponsabilité Sociale). Voir le site d’Acrimed par exemple pour plus d’info.

La Sentinelle’s code of ethics

As announced last week, La Sentinelle Group has launched its own Code of Ethics, which it has made available to the public on Sunday and Monday.
Here’s the link:
Code de déontologie

More on this later…

Mauritian Press: Latest developments

An article in L’express this morning announces two developments in the local mediascape related to the debate surrounding the Media Commission Bill:

(1) It would seem that an association of press editors & directors is about to be formed, upon an initiative of Lindsay Riviere (director of Business Publications).

(2) La Sentinelle is also finalising a code of ethics to be approved and adopted by all its journalists. Subsequently, a Complaints Committee for the group will be formed to receive and evaluate complaints against its publications, based upon the code of ethics.

These are indeed positive developments for the local press. However, here are some points to ponder:

(1) Will the journalists’ association and the association of directors & editors collaborate? I think it is essential that some bridge be established between the two. Otherwise, we might see some futile feuds (because of divergence of interests) that may be counter-productive to the main objective sought. This does not necessarily mean a merging of the associations, rather avenues for fruitful collaboration and ensuring democratic progress.

(2) Who will form part of the La Sentinelle Complaints Committee? Care should be taken that it does not turn out into a committee to punish journalists only, rather that steps are taken to identify the source of the problem, and ensure no similar errors are made (e.g. provide training to journalists in identifying & evaluationg sources, etc.)

To this effect, I am currently reading an interesting book which I think all journalists should read:

The Universal Journalist by David Randall.

A very insightful read that not only provides meaningful and practical advice but is also packed with concrete real-life situation examples. It does not provide steadfast rules like do’s and don’ts. It just provides sensible advice that has got so much value for ethical journalism. As I feel it, ethics is not just an additional skill that you have to acquire apart from knowing how to source your news, write lead paras or conduct interviews. It’s a way of life….

Sur notre ‘pauvre’ éducation

Lors d’une session de formation à l’intention de volontaires pour le travail social, j’ai fait une observation qui me semble assez symptomatique de notre incapacité à faire émerger des jeunes dynamiques, intelligents, créatifs…

Il me semble, en effet, que dans la majorité des cas, nos jeunes qui ont traversé 6 années de scolarité au niveau primaire et 7 ans au secondaire (soit 13 années de leur vie) n’ont probablement jamais eu l’opportunité de faire une présentation orale sur un sujet qui les intéresse! Et je ne parle pas ici de ces débats hautement artificiels que l’on organise parfois pour les ‘best speakers’… Lorsqu’ils arrivent sur les bancs de l’université, on voit bien qu’ils sont décontenancés si la parole leur est donnée de manière libre et adulte!

Un jeune habitué au savoir livresque, soumis au monopole de la parole par le ou la prof, souvent brimé ou frustré… voilà ce que nous produisons dans nos écoles et collèges!

Association of journalists is born

The association of journalists has been officially created with the election of its executive members. Henri Marimootoo (of Week-End) has apparently been elected president, with Sedley Assone (Le Dimanche) & Jean-Luc Emile (Radio Plus) as vice-pdts.

L’express has reported that their objectives are three-fold:
(1) work to promote freedom of expression & democracy
(2) provide training for journalists
(3) prepare a code of conduct for the profession
(source: http://www.lexpress.mu/display_article.php?news_id=72056)

These are of course very positive initiatives for the building up of the credibility of the whole profession.

I am however wondering how far chief editors and directors of publication will also be involved or feel concerned about these endeavours. I would very much like to know whether any of them attended the meeting and are providing support to the nascent organisation. I do feel that they have to be roped in or at least persuaded to contribute in the organisation. Otherwise, we might be faced with conflicting situations if chief eds or media bosses do not themselves adhere to the code of conduct in the making.

Also, media groups themselves should feel the need to contribute actively in order to support the training programmes. Coz ultimately, the organs themselves would benefit from having skilled, competent and ethics-aware staff. How are they going to cope with the imperatives of a commercial market and the ethical code of conduct?

They should also beware of falling into the trap of feeling comfortable and secure in this association. Openness to public scrutiny and willingness to have external criticism and impartial observers are important factors in determination of credibility. Of course, the other extreme represented by political correctness should also be avoided. Impertinence and pertinence remain key elements of journalism…

Soho, I wish them good luck!

‘Black’ is beautiful… but not exceptional

I happened to come across the Bollywood movie ‘Black’ (Sanjay Leela Bensali) last Thursday on MBC (a rare feat) and watched it as I had heard it was different and worth the watching.

It was indeed different… but not enough to my mind. Let me explain.

The film tells the story of a man (Amitabh Bachchan) who takes over the education+taming of a wild mute+deaf girl and turns her into a loveable, intelligent young lady (Rani Mukherjee).

There are virtually no song-and-dance sequences, no evil vs. good confrontations, no fights, no comical scenes, all cornerstones of classical Bollywood products. There are also no sexy images of women’s bodies, no erotic dances, the latest fad in Bollywood.
The film-maker has clearly tried to make an intelligent film with a serious theme. Yet, he falls easily into the trap of melodrama (e.g. Mukherjee’s speech at graduation, her sister’s speech on her engagement, Bachchan reading Mukherjee’s speech, etc.). The references to Chaplin (we see a poster of the Gold Rush in one of the scenes & Mukherjee walks like Chaplin), the play on colour (black and sombre until the white conclusion) are not new enough… The kiss between teacher and learner is barely ‘osé’.
The trajectory is also very classical with a positive outcome (girl finally becomes graduate and brings lucidity and pride to the senile teacher).

In a nutshell, a film I could have saved myself from watching…

Yet another radio debate on the press

After Radio One and TopFM, Radio Plus had its own show this Saturday devoted to the debate on regulation of the press through a possible Media Commission Bill.
Guests in the studio were Raj Meetarbhan (chief editor of l’express), Lindsay Riviere (chief ed of Business Magazine) and Rama Valayden (minister of Justice). Eshan Khodarbux (boss of the Defi Plus media group) also intervened through the phone.

Compared with his colleague Bunwaree (who was on Radio One a few days before), Valayden was much more sober and tried to present rational arguments for regulation of the press by govt. Yet, the accusation of plotting and bad faith on the part of a ‘section of the press’ (a favourite expression of all our successive govts) still held good. L’express was again heavily criticised for their coverage of the importation of petrol affair & the publication of rumours about transfers of civil servants, etc.

Raj Meetarbhan was in a fighting spirit and ardently defended his paper by trying to enter into a discussion of the details of these affairs. He almost accused the govt of plotting against l’express (which might be true but then why not week-end, a slightly more partisan paper in its opposition to the govt?).

Lindsay Riviere was probably the most rational contributor as he pointed out that the failings of the press could mostly be attributed to lack of access to information, lack of training and the nature of the job that does not allow for much time for triple, let alone double-checking as should be the case for credible journalism.

As for Khodabux, he also made some interesting points about the difficulties of the job with some concrete examples and a vivid language. It is however not quite fair that he was allowed to make a long uninterrupted intervention as compared with the other participants…

It was nonetheless one of the most informative shows on that issue so far (Radio+ had the advantage of being the last one to tackle it). Seems like the contenders are now refining their arguments and positioning themselves more clearly.

On the govt’s side, Valayden has now confirmed the existence of a working paper for the Media Commission Bill but he declared nothing would be finalised without proper consultations.

As for the press, Riviere alluded to the advent of the association of journalists and mentioned that even the media bosses & chief editors are thinking of forming an association.

The game is now truly on…