The "Orwellisation" (ie ziocon-ization) of the French media

[Adaryn]

On July 8, 2008, Richard Labeviere, an editor-in-chief at Radio France International (RFI) and author of several books on Middle and Near East affairs which were translated into several languages, carried out an exclusive interview with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in Damascus. The interview was made for RFI and TV5-Monde – two of the media outlets of the French holding company Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF). It took place just before the Syrian president’s latest visit to France.
In any other media institution, such an exclusive interview would be welcomed by management. However at RFI, what happened was the contrary: Richard Labeviere was promptly fired and accused of "serious misconduct." He was informed of his dismissal on Monday, August 11, by AEF chief executive officer Alain de Pouzilhac - even before the ruling of the Disciplinary Board.
The case is baseless.
Richard Labeviere is accused of having failed to inform his superiors on time – but the truth is that he actually informed them, in writing, five days before the interview. He is accused of production malfunctions – for which RFI and TV5-Monde are solely responsible. When one wants to kill his dog, he claims that his dog has rabies. Could it be that the journalist does not abide by the doxa in force?

Such a brutal, unjustified and illegal way of dismissing a journalist does not augur well for the future. The case, hurriedly sealed during the slow summer vacation, goes far beyond the classic abuse of power. It is part of the efforts of the AEF to put its hands on editorial content, as well as the upcoming social plan. And everyone knows that the primary target of this campaign is RFI.
The case of Richard Labévière reflects the current “Orwellisation” of the French press, the end of pluralism in the media and of freedom of expression in the country of Enlightenment. There seems to be a conscious decision to impose a “single-thought,” neo-conservative and unconditionally pro-Israeli point of view on international relations and crises.
Backing such an irreproachable journalist who is launching a lawsuit against the public channel which employed him is to support the free press which every citizen needs.

Sign the petition

Labeviere explains his case on YouTube (edit : in French with English subtitles) : here

 

[Rabelais]

Living in France, and having only French TV channels available on my set, I was immediately struck with the shift in media focus after Sarkozy won the election. Suddenly there was a holocaust special running on one channel or another almost any time of day (I get seven channels).

The tone of broadcast news changed noticeably too. Gone was any illusion of sympathy for Palestine. and very little mention at all of the situation there, even though, pre-Sarko, there had been regular coverage of events and atrocities in Gaza. Sympathy for Palestinians abruptly switched to sympathy for Israel.

French TV news has become almost identical to American broadcasting. I find that sad because it was such a refreshing change when I first moved here.

 

[Jacques]

French TV news has become almost identical to American broadcasting. I find that sad because it was such a refreshing change when I first moved here.

That is history. The France we use to know does no longer exist. With Sarko, we are going to see a France made in USA. And sadly, it is just the beginning.

 

[Adaryn]

I'll always remember this :
Chirac in Israel

Those days are over. It doesn't mean there wasn't a powerful Zionist lobby in France before Sarko's election though (remember Dieudonné's sketch mocking Israel/zionism on TV in 2003 and his subsequent mediatic death)