Why I love my state-owned television networks...

Government-run media outlets would be worse that media owned by big companies. That’s basically what someone (Jared, if I remember correctly?) said at the end of the class yesterday. Okay, I know, I am French, citizen of a ‘nanny state’, so I may be a little biased when it comes to government intervention... but clearly, I don’t agree with this theory that public ownership of media is necessarily bad.

Let’s take a look at what we are doing in France. (I am aware that I am always talking about France... I did not know that I was such a patriot before coming to the USA...)

We have six “big” television networks in France: three of them are government-owned, three of them are privately-owned.

Among the private channels, we have:
- TF1 (30% marketshare), owned by Bouygues, an industrial group which earns a lot of money from state contracts (Martin Bouygues, the CEO, was the groomsman at Nicolas Sarkozy’s second marriage and is the godfather of Louis Sarkozy)
- Canal+ (3%) is part of the Vivendi Group: it is a premium television network (like Showtime or HBO), but it also broadcasts for free four hours a day.
- M6 (12%) is part of the German media conglomerate Bertelsmann.

Among the public channels, we have:
- France2 (18%): generalist channel
- France3 (12%): regional channel
- Arte (2%): Franco-German channel (can be compared to PBS)

And who broadcasts the best newscasts? The best news magazines? The best political shows? In my mind, it is definitely the public networks, not driven by purely commercial motives and therefore less obsessed by their ratings.
> France 2 for instance broadcasts a daily political interview in its morning shows, two 30-minute newscasts, a weekly and a monthly political magazine, and several investigation magazines.

Just to understand the huge gap between public and private networks in France, let’s take a look at TF1. The private channel does not broadcast any political magazine, and its "news" magazine are more trashy than informative...

Yesterday for instance, what were the reports on the 30-minute midday newscast of Jean-Pierre Pernaut?
1. The weather (0:40)
2. Letters sent by French children to Santa Claus> what a good editorial choice! (1:48)
3. Soccer game between France and Ireland (8:34!!!!)
4. Swine flu (4:28)
5. Traditions in United Kingdom (1:34)
6. A cell-phone bill of 159,000 euros (1:54)
7. A company who has troubles hiring plumbers (2:49)
8. Should parents be able to choose the birth place displayed on the ID card of their baby? (02:10)
9. Twilight 2 (1:58)
10. Chantal Goya, a French singer successful in the 80s (2:32)
11. The Christmas tree in Strasbourg (1:32)
12. The good weather on the French riviera (1:38)
13. A dance school in Paris (4:23)
14. How to cook beef? (3:27)

It’s really funny to watch, especially if you like to learn about French traditions. I love when they are doing a report about traditions from my region, but come on, is that really news? That’s what happens, in my mind, when the newscast is only driven by commercial motives... you are trying to get more and more viewers, and you forgot your watchdog role.

Government intervention is not always such a bad thing... don't you think?

By Mathieu D.

Go - Go Music and The Real DC Experience

- A performance by Backyard Band or BYB

Go-go music is a reflection of a culture ignored by tourists and outsiders who know nothing of this city beyond what they see at the National Mall. A subgenre of funk developed in the 1970’s and 1980’s by Chuck Brown, the godfather of go-go, turned into a guide for any outsider to learn about Washington, DC. To know about this city is to know about go –go. Deeply rooted in mostly black communities since its humble beginnings, contributions made by different bands has created considerably one of the most unique and underrated genres of music out right now.

If you’re a fan of go-go, you’re either in a band or you know someone in a band. As a band member, chances are that you come from one of the many neighborhoods in the DC Metropolitan area. You represent your neighborhood and you give them a higher profile because you get to give them shout outs throughout the songs. A relatively recent practice, this indicates which neighborhoods are highly represented in the go-go songs and come out in high attendance to the several shows, referred to Washingtonians as go-go’s. Unfortunately violence often time follows people at the go-go becoming a constant problem that has forced authorities to come in high numbers and even involving the gang unit. Violence in the go-go is also a reflection of a violent culture that has spilled into our streets and schools.

Wale, one of the fastest rising rappers to come out of this area is often with UCB, or the Uncalled for Band. This is a go-go band that has been around for a long time and have the laid-back rhythm heavy style that made go-go real popular in the first place. They accompanied Wale at the MTV Video Music Awards and will appear on Wale’s debut album, Attention Deficit, coming out on Tuesday. They are one of the few bands that revolutionized the sound of go-go and continue to do so with a loyal older fan base along with the Backyard Band and the Total Control Band. Younger fans might enjoy Takeover Band, Reaction Band, or Tru Expressions. They made a completely different but more upbeat sound that reflects what’s popular in hip-hop these days.

Granted that the sound is one that is not easy to fall in love with, no one can deny that people are becoming more curious about this music. Local bands often travel to different states, playing at school with a high percentage of students from DC. As more people hear about go-go, the more likely it will be accepted. If you haven’t listened to it already, already do so. A couple songs that out of towners like are Sexy Lady by UCB and Welcome to DC by Mambo Sauce. Be aware that these are touriss friendly songs and not even the true representation of go-go. If you want to know more, look up the other heavy hitters I mentioned and you will take a look in the real DC.

- Samuel Collins, Jr.