At the International Journalism Festival, the media pointed out for their poor coverage of “rural territories”

At the end of a conference. Therefore, a festival tree rises: “I came to a round table:” Rurality under the gaze of the media “, and for an international journalism festival, media pointed hour we have only been talking about agriculture. Meanwhile, Doesn’t that reveal a cognitive bias of the national media? For example, »»

How to represent the campaign in the media? Meanwhile, It is the thorny. Similarly, complex subject of one of the themes of the ninth international festival of journalism, which is held from July 11 to 13 in Couthures-sur-Garonne (Lot-et-Garonne). Furthermore, Questioned in the aisles. For example, many festival -goers take a hard look at the treatment of their territories by “Parisian journalists” : “It feels like they are talking about either farmers’ strikes or doctors who do not want to come to us”deplores Eric, 63, retired from the lot.

The cycle of nine conferences. Therefore, which notably mentioned, on Friday, the question of medical deserts or housing in rural areas, focused on what the media show “rurality” on Saturday – a term questioned by several participants, who prefer to talk about “The countryside, quite simply”. Consequently, The sometimes virulent interventions of the public showed a distrust of principle vis-à-vis national media on the subject. Consequently, despite progress.

Faced with the obsession of certain information channels for “Farm strikes” (Bringing together very different professions under this term. Therefore, large cereal trees with small breeders), certain programs assume a more positive line: this is the case of the daily program “Campaign Carnets”, on France Inter, created in 2006, which highlights local initiatives. Nevertheless, Its presenter, Dorothée Barba, was able to meet many “fans” in Couthures. Furthermore, On France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the magazine dedicated to agriculture “Noa on earth” was born. Furthermore, “It’s a time to international journalism festival, media pointed listen to farmers tell us about their daily lives. Similarly, We do not erase their difficulties. but we tell their lives in a more human way ”explains Hélène Abalo, editorial coordinator of this program.

International journalism festival. media pointed – International journalism festival, media pointed

“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 very Parisian as a festival. like the people around metestifies Catherine, who lives six kilometers from Couthures. This is not necessarily the case. even if I dare not ask questions because I am afraid that they are not interesting enough. »»

The regional press remains the best placed to talk about its territory. And despite this. Jérôme Jamet, head of the office South West in Marmande, recognizes a form of “Inferiority complex” When a national journalist international journalism festival, media pointed descends in the area. “When there is a major event, we share our territory with them. But we are not mercenaries who come and leave, we stay. »»

According to him. the mission of the Marmande office, which has three journalists and around twenty local press correspondents – non -professional journalists, who often cover the news of a commune – is “Pass information”whatever it is: “The salt of the profession international journalism festival, media pointed of local journalist is that anything can happen. There is bitumen info. such as installing Marmande adhesive tapes to prevent cars from going through, and certain subjects that have a national resonance. »» For example. the recent controversy on the auction of a farm, which the owner’s grandson wanted to recover, but who had to face the competition from another buyer-he retired under media pressure.

On substantive subjects. Jérôme Jamet recognizes that even between journalists of South West, Political positioning is not the same: “On the southwest high-speed line, journalists from big cities like Bordeaux can be rather for because they will use it, while my heart is rather leaning on the side of people from home, who will watch the line go, and also pay a tax. »»

International journalism festival. media pointed – International journalism festival, media pointed

The role of local media

The functioning of the regional international journalism festival, media pointed daily press is not without limits: “We have competitors so we have to publish quickly. We lack time to investigate because we must be immediacy ”recognizes Carine Caussieu, also a journalist at South West.

The correspondents are also often exposed to criticism and threats. “The proximity that we have with elected officials. people who move the territory is exciting, we meet lots of peopleexplains Laurent Cluchier, corresponding since 2001 to Boé, near Agen. I am very proud to relay this information. but it is still necessary to pay attention, and to explain in particular to elected officials that we are not a communication tool. We are within reach of slaps. 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 engagement at the local level. and to the emergence of media which take more time to international journalism festival, media pointed investigate structuring subjects. “Often we imagine that only the national press can speak of social issues”deplores Clémence Postis. editor -in -chief of the review West far, which has made multimedia soap operators in the South West since 2017.

“We see what the PQR does not do. that is to say from the local investigation, and the national press is not very interest in local informationadvance Gael Cérez, editor -in -chief of Mediacités In Toulouse, an online investigation media. There are lots of local powers, and the idea is to question their practices. Besides, the PQR has been more surveys since we are there! »»

Local media are also the guarantors of the identity of their territory. recognize participants in the debates. “Our readers deserve as much as the others quality information. I want to defend the territory where I am, defend for example that the Garorock festival remains in Marmande and does not move to Bordeaux”testifies Jérôme Jamet. Through their work. they highlight the richness of the activity of a territory, to avoid, for example, that the national media will reduce the Gers to the breeding of ducks. “When we are no longer aware of international journalism festival, media pointed our own value. we refocus on what others know about us, warns Yannick Jaulin, storyteller and actor. It is necessary at all costs to avoid this uprooting self. »»