At the end of a conference, a festival tree increases: “I came to a round table:” Rurality under the look of the media “, and we are talking about agriculture for an hour.
How to represent the campaign in the media? It is the thorny and complex subject of one of the themes of the ninth International Festival of Journalism, which is held from 11 to 13 July in Goutures-sur-Garonne (Lot-et-Garonne). Early in the aisles, a lot of festival look carefully at the treatment of their areas through “Parisian journalists” : “It feels like they are talking about strikes from farmers or doctors who don’t want to come to us”Regretted Eric, 63, pulled from the party.
The cycle of nine conferences, which mentioned the issue of medical deserts or housing in rural areas on Friday on Friday on Friday, was aimed at what the media show “rurality” on Saturday – a term interviewed by different participants, who prefer to talk about “The countryside, simply”. The sometimes virulent interventions of the public showed a distrust of principle compared to national media on this subject, despite progress.
Confronted with the obsession of certain information channels for “Farm Strikes” (Certain programs include very different professions under this term, large grain trees with small breeders), take on a more positive line: this is the case of the Daily Program “Campaign Cannets”, on France Inter, made in 2006, which emphasizes local initiatives. The presenter, Dorothée Barba, was able to meet many “fans” in Couthures. On France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine the magazine was dedicated to agriculture “Noa on Earth”. “It is a time to listen to farmers about their daily lives. We do not delete their difficulties, but we tell their lives in a more human way”explains Hélène Abalo, editorial coordinator of this program.
“Inferiority complex “
The public of the festival comes for more than half of the new Aquitaine region, but not necessarily the most rural areas. ‘I thought it was all of Paris like a festival, like the people around meCatherine, who lives six kilometers from Couthures. This is not necessarily the case, even if I don’t dare to ask questions because I’m afraid they are not interesting enough. »»
The regional press is best placed to talk about his territory. And despite this, Jérôme Jamet, head of the office Southwest in Marne, recognizes a form of “Inferiority complex” When a national journalist descends into the area. “If there is a big event, we share our territory with them. But we are not mercenaries who come and leave, we will stay.” “
According to him, the mission of the office of Marnde is that three journalists and about twenty local press correspondents – not – is – professional journalists who often cover the news of a municipality – is “Pass on information”Whatever it is: “The salt of the profession of the local journalist is that everything can happen. There is bitumen -info, such as installing marne glue tires to prevent cars from continuing, and certain topics that have a national resonance.” “ For example, the recent controversy about the auction of a farm, which wanted to restore the owner’s grandson, but who had to face the competition of another buyer he retired under media pressure.
On substantive topics, Jérôme Jamet even recognizes that between journalists from Southwest, Political positioning is not the same: “On the southwestern high -speed line, journalists from big cities such as Bordeaux can be more likely because they will use it, while my heart leans rather on the side of people from home, who will see the line go, and also pay a tax.” “
The role of local media
The functioning of the regional daily press is not without limits: “We have competitors, so we have to publish quickly. We miss time to investigate because we have to be immediately”Recognizes Carine Caussieu, also a journalist at Southwest.
The correspondents are also often exposed to criticism and threats. “The proximity that we have with chosen officials and people moving the territory is exciting, we meet many peopleExplains Laurent Cluchier, who has been in line with Boé since 2001, near Agen. I am very proud to pass on this information, but it is still necessary to pay attention and in particular to explain to the chosen officials that we are not a communication instrument. We are within the reach of blows, sometimes the arm is very short, but it is also because readers have a relationship of trust, we are read every day. »»
Another round table was devoted to journalistic involvement at the local level, and to the rise of media that takes more time to investigate structuring topics. “We often imagine that only the national press can speak about social issues”regrate clémence postis, editor -in -chief of the review West far, which has made multimedia -soap operators in the southwest of the southwest since 2017.
“We see what the PQR does not do, that is, from the local research, and the National Press is not very interested in local informationAdvance Gael Cérez, editor -in -chief of MediaCittés In Toulouse, an online research media. There are many local powers, and the idea is to question their practices. By the way, the PQR has been more surveys since we are there! »»
Local media are also the guarantees for the identity of their territory, recognize participants in the debates. “Our readers deserve just as much as the quality information of the other, I want to defend the territory where I am, for example defending that the Garorock festival stays in Marne and does not move to Bordeaux”Jérôme Jamet testifies. Through their work they emphasize the wealth of the activity of a territory, for example to prevent the national media from reducing the Gers to breed ducks. “If we are no longer aware of our own value, we will again focus on what others know about us, Yannick Jaulin warns, storyteller and actor. It is necessary at all costs to prevent this uprooting self. »»
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