NewsFan

BBC vs RAI Uno

Hunched or Bombasted?

While France softly delivers its first big television news edition at lunch time, other nations prefer to  have their citizens in touch with what's going on outside their homes earlier.

Italy offers to the audience of RAI Uno - the major channel of the state-owned television - a substantial gamut of news at 8:00am and it’s a serious show. A close-up of the presenter at his desk fills the screen, immediately after the TG1* logo and tune. 

(* TG1, TeleGiornale of RAI Uno, telegiornale meaning television news)

You are held. Today -24/11/06- the no-frills, no-nonsense voice starts with the finance laws. These have been the subject of a debate in Parliament and the main story of the  “telegiornale” on this channel for a number of days now. The topic is developed by a reporter and his comments are illustrated with views of a street and Parliament's benches. Back to the presenter. He introduces the next story, which is the potential merger between Air France-KLM and Alitalia, then yields the microphone to a remote reporter. You listen to him while glancing at an airport and some staff at work inside a plane. Back again to the presenter, another piece of international news, another voice-over of a reporter backed by some images; this time, they show Putin and Ukrainian people protesting in the street.

This verbal ping-pong between the presenter and reporters goes on over five additional foreign affairs stories. The last ten minutes of the show then list a few crimes, the indexes of the major Stock exchanges - in particular the Asian ones -  some sports events and dedicate a good bit of time for cultural entertainment. Closure moves in after the one-minute clip in this week’s series: History.

Now, off you go to work or wherever you want, dutifully harnessed as a citizen of the world. I suppose.

Well, lets' dare to compare with the renowned British provider of reliable and knowledgeable news, the Beeb.  On BBC1, you’re invited as even earlier birds to have breakfast with both of their presenters.  Settled on bright red sofas or at the news desk, they will roll over a bunch of stories from 6:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., the main news being rehashed at regular intervals. Moreover, you can watch or listen to them in front of your TV in your sitting-room or on your Ipod in the Underground or maybe on your computer in the office just before starting work. 
No pressure here, it’s your pace, your pick of the day. So what’s up out there today?

Only two foreign news items are offered in the opening sequence, including Iraq, which has been an everyday topic for some time now. Then concerns closer to home take over: the availability of the anti-breast cancer medicine, Herceptin, the extension of parental leave, moving to the preparation of nomination of ministers in Northern Ireland are the stories that make up the current affairs before the daily weather status. And at fixed times a one-minute (or so) regional news gives the state of traffic and weather and mentions one salient bit of information specific to the area.

You are under the impression that the format is designed to fit your needs and your timing. During the 3- hour cycle of news, other topics stud this mosaic of facts and discussions. Each item is indeed explained, described and assessed not only by the journalists but also by either someone directly involved or anyone from the public.

I wonder if this implies that the BBC Breakfast is totally un-biased.

It seems to try relentlessly to engage its viewers in local issues that should be at least mulled over, if not tackled without delay. These various everyday life questions don’t unfold a typical rosy perspective and I could feel challenged to put on a brave face before stepping outside. On the other hand, if I jumped into Italian shoes, after swallowing the rich menu of TG1, I might feel inspired - while checking my attire ten times in front of the mirror – to go out and look around with gravitas.

How long do we remain affected by these doses of information, though?

Struck by TV News

8:00 o’clock in the morning and you got magnetized by a grim view of sand, running people in uniforms, tanks, yells, rifles behind a reporter from the only spot of light in the room, the TV screen. What is he telling you? 6 soldiers killed in an ambush in Iraq ... Aargh! You feel crushed but, 8:02 o’clock, here’s the news presenter introducing the new initiative of your government on schools, and your child is running all around, and your memory is screaming you've got only 15 minutes left to:  dress, jump in your car, pull together a mental asana before thrusting yourself into the city traffic.

But that’s local time, that’s national television, that’s your personal business, or is it?

A French friend, living in Sweden, enthused on how good it feels to watch the “JT” of TF1 - TV news at 1:00pm and 8:00pm on the main private news channel - as any citizen on French territory does, thanks to the Internet. I tried the 1:00 pm show yesterday. Fabulous!

With a light tone and an innocent smile punctuating almost each piece of information, the journalist guided me through France and the specific issues of a number of regions, after a broad overview of foreign and national problems. There were these areas exposed to flood risks where the government has decided that from now on, the residents will be taken care of by the local insurance companies. In the meantime in Marseille, fishers were lamenting the decline of sea urchins whereas in the markets of various towns, the shopping wicker basket from the 50's has reappeared after plastic bags have been gradually abandoned for environmental concerns. In the capital, an important exhibition is taking place, where city mayors can evaluate the new super modern radars for road traffic, flick through a book of ready-made speeches for beginners in the role, relax with some games and so on. Finally, according to the season, some advice is given for gardening and the second part of a miniseries on architectural France closes the 30 minute news edition.

I am in awe. First of all, I found out that French people have sorted out the question of plastic in supermarket, some time ago, while for instance in Great-Britain, the need to get rid of it is just arising. Still it is a concern shared by the two countries and I am interested to watch how similar the solutions are, not to mention the setting. But above all, it is the whole sequence of news that impressed me: that was like a reality show directed by a Tourist Board!

In fact, my immediate reaction was: Wow! People wandering leisurely with their shopping basket, among all that fresh, probably organic produce! Oh! That's the history of this fortress designed by Vauban. And aren't the sea, the sun, the clear sky behind the port an invitation to travel?

Well, now, I’m stung. I am curious to see what kind of news we are delivered everyday, wherever we are, and how they are packaged…