June 14, 2007
Sarkozy slur
Tony Blair thinks that the British media are too frenzied and aggressive (see yesterday’s post). But are the French media too passive and respectful of authority?
The question is raised by the current controversy over whether Nicolas Sarkozy was drunk at a press conference at the G8 summit. The suggestion was first made by a Belgian television newscaster and the accompanying video is certainly amusing and suggestive. But no French television station broadcast the footage. And the main French papers also ignored the story, until the Belgian TV newsreader was forced to apologise - a fact which was then dutifully reported in France.
In defence of the French, you could argue that this was a non-story or a slur. Sarkozy may have been drunk - he normally doesn’t drink much and had just met the Russian president - but the video is not conclusive. The fact that he is giggling and short of breath, could also indicate activities other than heavy drinking.
The French media have a long tradition of ignoring stories about the "private lives" of public figures - President Mitterand’s affairs and illegitimate daughter went unreported. The fact that Sarkozy’s separation from his wife did make the papers was a partial break with this tradition. But - in any case - it is hard to argue that a president (drunk or otherwise) holding a press conference is operating in the private domain.
I also think that the the question of the president’s sobriety passes the public interest test. It is in the public interest to know if the president is getting slammed in the sidelines of a summit. And the public is certainly interested by such tittle-tattle - whether or not it’s true and whether or not it affects his ability to do the job.
The British media would have jumped all over this story. I think both Blair and Sarkozy would prefer the French way. But I think it’s healthier (and more fun) if these things can be discussed out in the open.
The French, on the whole, have more respect for authority and they feel that any gaffe on the part of their leaders reflects badly on their country and upon themselves. They tend not to assume the worst and, especially in this case, will give their popular new President a break.
I wouldn’t directly say it’s healthier for these things to be discussed either, in the UK the media and people nowadays tend to assume the worst much more than in many other European nations and that is damaging to the quality of democracy since it erodes trust in the institutions. Maybe institutions should not be trusted but then why should we pay taxes, trust the police to uphold the law and abide by it ourselves? I don’t think it’s fun either when issues that are damaging to the institutions of state are ridiculed out in the open exactly because the state is a common cultural illusion in the first place that has no reality outside of the minds of ‘man’.
Gideon, perhaps you could live in Sweden for a while and experience a healthier democracy and a society in which there is better balance between the state, people and the media. Earlier you were critical of Dutch society because certain politicians require protection from terrorists while you forgot that in the UK the entire cabinet was once almost blown to pieces, Downing street is a no go area most of the time and there are cameras allover the place making the UK one of the places most negatively affected by terrorism. The only way in which this is more fun if you’re jaded and cynical and that’s not very becoming of you.
Posted by: Felix Drost, Amsterdam | June 15th, 2007 at 1:10 am | Report this commentThought this blog on IA might be of interest
http://worldmayday.blogspot.com/
recent post: “Reducing Global Population Growth to Alleviate Poverty”
Posted by: Dave Fine | June 15th, 2007 at 5:50 am | Report this commentI think this story is pretty typical of the French media reverential attitude. Jeremy Paxman could never have made it in France. While I don’t agree with covering the personal lives of politicians in the media, this situation is clearly different. Even the anti-Sarko media didn’t cover this. More worrying, it seems a lot of ordinary French people dismissed this (having not seen the video) as a Socialist ruse to discredit Sarko!
Posted by: a | June 15th, 2007 at 11:15 am | Report this commentAt the same time, on the specific matter of the incident and knowing how business gets done in Russia, I’m not surprised that teetotaler Sarko found it hard to cope with the vodka. (I feel this is the most likely interpretation - had it been a meeting with Bush or Merkel, I dont think anybody would have suggested he was tipsy)
I saw President Sarkozy’s Press conference Live on French TV, and his exposé was articulate, comprehensive and I, later on, learnt also on French TV (LCI) that the British media had reported him to be drunk! I did not know that a Belgium journalist had been made to apologise until I read your comments!
The beginning of this century is marked by the advent of a new force called “media” which has replaced the traditionnal establishments of society such as religion, monarchy etc. This new force is undisciplined and often acts as “a mouton de Panurge”, and this accounts for their frenzy and aggressivity. The media often acts as the Accusation, the Defense, the Judge and the Jury. Even the eminent Editor of the FT found it impossible to accept the pertinence of Mr Blair’s remarks in his Editorial, yesterday. The media holds too much power, and society needs to find a counter-weight.
To come back to the French situation, it is true to say that their media is more respectful than the British media. Legislation on privacy, vouvoiement, and intellectualisation contribute to this factor. The black and white (government and opposition), dual political party approach so stereotyped in Britain have led to a confrontational method of interview on TV. The French culture does not allow for it because of a much wider spectrum of political parties and also the calibre of politicians. (Even the clever FT journalists find it sometimes difficult to handle an Enarque). Jeremy Paxman could not have made it in France as suggested above, but not for the reverential attitude of the media, but because many interviewees would outwit him, and even the very best French political journalists like JP Helkabbach have to learn to be respectful in front of a French President.
Vive la différence.
Posted by: Georges Praud | June 15th, 2007 at 3:56 pm | Report this commentI’m no so sure about the oh so clever French politicians referred to in the previous post. British politicians are no mugs - just comparing a PM’s questions session to one in l’assemblee nationale and any outside observer would realise a mediocre communicator would find it hard to survive in Britain while in France, it’s all too easy to sit and wait. (btw - the attendance and participation record of so many French deputes is absolutely scandalous!)
Equally, many French politicians have prospered thanks to the complacency of the media. How come the inconsistency of Royal’s views were not challenged earlier? Even Le Monde - reputedly one of the most serious paper with high-calibre journaliste - did little else but blindly support her.
As for Sarko’s “drunk” moment, he behaved as the video above portrays - and he also was focused and articulate as he went on.
The media refects the society we live in - if anything we ought to be thankful to have powerful media. That means than many “scandals” can be uncovered probably more quickly than in the past. Clearly, we ought to work hard at keeping media ownership and editorial as separate as possible and having powerful and independent media regulator/overseeing bodies.
I agree the “mouton de panurge” effect needs to be curtailed - but I don’t agree a couterweight to the media needs to be found. We just need to maintain a plurality of views in the media - and this is where we need to be careful as markets are driven by profits and can lead to too much concentration. For the media, it would be a problem. In this, I think the British way of a publicly funded but highly independent BBC can help promote integrity in reporting and be a general good to society.
Posted by: a | June 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm | Report this commentBy contrast, France’s publicly funded media have no way near the credibility of the BBC - in fact, opinion polls show the public trust the “journal” of TF1 most.
With Sarkozy France has left to be an international actor. Now, as President Vladimir Putin said about Varsaw, when he wants to know what Paris thinks it will be enough calling to Washington DC.
France now has a Vichy-like Puppet Government, only that this time their instructions come from Washington DC.
What influence in the Arab World can France have when it is led by a Zionist which just repeat what Condi says?
What influence in Latin America can France have when they repeat the words of their American Masters.
Unfortunately, know France has left to be an international player.
Posted by: Enrique | June 19th, 2007 at 11:49 am | Report this commentGideon, the following by Bill Emmott (also of ‘The Economist’ fame):
One of the most curious things of my time at The Economist is how more and more distanced we became from the UK media. The London media…is different [from the U.S. media] in two ways: one, its much less professional, much more sensationalist, even in the so-called quality broadsheets like The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and The Guardian. [They’re] much less scrupulous about sources….The second thing about the British media is that it is more opinionated and therefore…more creative in the editorial positions [than the mainstream American media] and indeed in the way in which news and comment are blurred…
Interesting point of view
Posted by: Felix Drost, Amsterdam | June 20th, 2007 at 12:45 am | Report this commentsource
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/america/2007/06/economist_editor_on_rupert_mur.html#more
There is no better alcoholic than the one which pretends not to drink, such Nicolas Sarkozy…
Charles.
http://charles.hautefort.com
PS: Marianne, BFMTV are one of the few French media which talk about Nicolas Sarkozy in G8.
Posted by: Charles | June 21st, 2007 at 10:18 pm | Report this comment