French rugby has become a national obsession – what ever happened to investigative journalism?
The leading picture on Le Parisien's website
This morning, while glancing over the online websites for Le Monde, Le Figaro and Le Parisien, anyone would have thought that the entire planet had put a hold on breaking news to make room for the marvel of the French rugby team. Headlining both Le Monde’s and Le Figaro’s web page was news of Bernard Laporte’s team selection for Saturday’s match against England. Le Parisien chose to concentrate on how the French are preparing for the big match in light of the fact the English had decided to train in the rain on Tuesday evening. Quite how this is deemed worthy of front page news is frankly beyond all thought.
Last week’s news headlines on the French public television channel, TF1, was also dedicated to the French national rugby team. While the European Central Bank made important decisions on interest rates, Buddhist monks in Burma were facing the wrath of an evil authoritarian regime and Nicholas Sarkozy made an important visit to Bulgaria, much of the French media had choosen to focus on the supposed grandeur of fifteen athletically tuned brutes.
It is an undeniable fact; the rugby world cup is a gripping spectacle which inspires a telling sense of national pride as well as a splendid sensation of cohesion with one's fellow citizens. Even from the lonesome couch in my living room, surrounded by French people, I felt a true sense of brotherhood as the Irish ran out onto the pitch against Argentina last week. However, there is more to life than rugby.
The role of certain newspapers and television channels appears to be more about money making than the production of investigative reports dealing with issues that actually matter. TF1's broadcasts are a clear result of the advertisements that follow any particular program.
L’humanité ran an in depth report on expulsion laws for new immigrants and Libération chose to concentrate on Sarkozy’s visit to Russia. The French left wing media was the only sector to include rugby further down the pecking order. And rightly so!
One journalist I have spoken to rescently declared his disgust with the profession claiming that true investigative reporting is less common in large national papers. "Information is merely reproduced", he said.
Nonetheless, come on England this weekend!
