Black newsreader on TF1

[Clair]

Heard this morning on France Info:

"TF1 is changing the face of the news. PPDA will be replaced for the summer by what's-his-name  originaire des Antilles."

The fact that they said "originaire des Antilles" made me cringe.

The fact that it even made the news made me cringe.

[Opalienne]

Me too!   The dearth of people of a different ethnic origin on French TV is sad.  But then look at politics - it's the same there.  No wonder Arabs and blacks feel hopeless when there is so little evidence of success for non-white people.   Apart from the guy who does the weather on TF1 I can't think of anyone on mainstream French TV who isn't white.

[nimportequoi]

There is a coloured lady (Audrey?) who regularly reads the news on France 3 at 19h30.

[Tresco]

Saligo Bay started a thread about this called 'Lack of Black', perhaps over a year ago.

When Audrey Pulvar (?) first got her job, it caused something of a sensation, with people implying she had only got her job due to her ethnicity, but she had been a journalist for 10 years and had done a lot of radio work. She was a bit shaky to start with; she didn't know the protocol for what to do with her hands, and I was pretty sure from the body language that the big blonde male co-presenter she was often teamed with was hostile to her - but she seems very accomplished to me now, and he has chilled out too.

Then theres the absence generally which is very noticeable isn't it, apart from the wierd adverts: African 'voodoo' woman for Leerdammer (?) cheese, chocolate and coffee ads etc. The American ads and films stand out as being very different in this respect. If you find yourself watching TV late at night the 'complexion' changes a little.

It's so noticeable to me I am currently gearing up a to do a piece of  research based on it.

[Clair]

The France Info item highlighted the news by stating that the "Journal de 20h" on TF1 has the largest audience in Europe.

Their complete article is linked to this:

[quote]PARIS (AFP)

7 Mars 2006 14h36

Harry Roselmack, premier journaliste noir aux manettes du "20H00" de TF1

Harry

Roselmack, bientôt 33 ans, qui doit présenter le "20H00" de TF1 cet été

pendant les vacances de Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, deviendra ainsi le

premier journaliste noir à  tenir les manettes du grand journal du soir

sur cette chaîne, qui est la plus regardée d'Europe.[/quote]

[Dick Smith]

There was a similar fuss when Trevor Macdonald got a similar gig in the UK. Now he is Sir Trevor and a pillar of the broadcasting establishment; just how far behinds IS France?

[SaligoBay]

Exactly that far behind, Dick.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

[quote user="Dicksmith"]There was a similar fuss when Trevor Macdonald

got a similar gig in the UK. Now he is Sir Trevor and a pillar of the

broadcasting establishment; just how far behinds IS France?

[/quote]

Perhaps a better question, if you don't mind me turning it around a

bit, would be "just how far ahead is the UK?" In comparison to many

European countries (including such paragons of tolerance as the Benelux

countries), France does quite well - for example, people of colour in

police dramas are not always portrayed as criminals.... The UK is a bit special in this respect, which is rather nice.