Not enough "diversity" on TV : Meet Harry, Summer French TV sensation

[Carnyx]

Harry Roselmack, 33, will anchor the evening news this summer on TF1, France leading private television channel. Why the headlines? Why the fuss? Tv presenters come and go.

In France, this appointment is a huge step forward for ethnic minorities of African, North-African or Asian descent. Until recently, they were just about invisible on French broadcast medias. For years, action groups lobbied TV executives to promote the racial and cultural diversity of today France in their programmes and staff. With very little success.




Screaming headlines: Harry Roselmack's promotion is causing surprise and great hopes for ethnic minorities in France
©2006 LeParisien

Last September, the arrival of Audrey Pulvar, a black journalist, on the screen of France3 (a state-owned network) seemed the highest token of achievement a reporter from a minority group could dream of. But the suburban riots around Paris in November 2005 changed everything. President Chirac summoned public and private medias brass to the presidential Elysee Palace for a quiet talk about cultural diversity versus discrimination.It worked.

Yet, no one expected the conservative, ratings-obsessed TF1 to lead the way. Its evening news programme is the top ranking show by far in metropolitan France. Every evening, at 8 o’clock, 8,8 millions French viewers watch it. Mr Roselmack's performance during his six-weeks interim (yes, it is only a summer job for the time being!) will be very closely watched by advertisers, pollsters and politicians.

With the presidential and the general elections looming, in 2007, candidates are anxious to know whom to please and how. The public reaction to this media novelty, a black anchorman, should give them precious feedback on how to position themselves in an explosive campaign. The French political landscape is raked by non-stop controversies on its colonial past and discrimination issues in education, housing and job-hunting.

On a legal stand, France constitution forbids for now the affirmative action policies that the United States, among other states, have used to tackle racial discrimination. It is easy to forecast that these issues will be central in local and national political campaigns.

Mr Roselmack, a French citizen, born in France of Caribean parents, has not commented publicly on his dream-job promotion. He currently anchors the midday news on cable channels Canal+ and I-Television.