PARIS,
April 28 (IslamOnline.net) - A symposium in Paris has called for
giving an ample room for immigrants in media to manifest the French
society with its cultural and religious mosaic.
Called
“Pale Screens…The Cultural Diversity and Social Culture in
Media”, the symposium was held Monday, April 26, under the auspices
of the Supreme French Council for Integration (SFCI) at the Arab
Institute in Paris.
Yazid
Sebbagh, the president of the Secular Union for Equality, suggested
applying the quota system to integrate immigrants into media, namely,
by setting aside job opportunities for them.
“In
doing so, we can break the one-sided cycle, which characterizes the
French media,” Sebbagh told the gathering, including five directors
of best-watching French TV stations.
“If
the French TV is really the mirror of the French society, it currently
doesn’t represent the desired ethnic plurality.”
The
audience gave the case of anchorwoman Nadia Samir in the 1980s as a
shining example, whose work spoke louder and succeeded in penetrating
the racism barriers.
“Nadia’s
experience is unique in itself in the French media,” Sebbagh said.
‘Beyond
Blonde Hair And Blue Eyes’
But
Jean-Marie Charon, a researcher in the National Center for Scientific
Research, argued that the quota system would not work because it
“violates the principle of equality on the basis of efficiency”.
He
said media people should first redeem the gruesome image of the
immigrant communities, who are tarnished as a bunch of impoverished,
victimized and perverted people.
“To
my way of thinking, we should first clear stereotypes about the
immigrants and help them integrate into society.”
Hisham
Bin Yaish, the editor-in-chief of the Nouveau Magazine Des
Consommateurs, refused to heap the blame on the government, saying
the core issue lies in taking concrete steps.
The
event followed a press campaign calling for equal opportunities in
media for immigrants.
Zair
Kadidouche, an SFCI member, has hit out in an article in Le Monde
newspaper about the “one-sided” approach which “poisons” the
French media.
He
said the media should go beyond the “blonde hair and blue eyes”.
“The
French society is home now to the Blacks, Arabs and Asians and it
should reflect such a diversity,” he said.
