Je suis Charlie

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on January 18, 2015 at 10:14

Born on a set of big islands (NZ) and moving to a smaller island (UK), I do find that all island people tend to look outwards.

We seem to have switched from people's belief in centre-of-the-universe, to media coverage. If you're interested in international news coverage, as I am, I'd recommend the BBC's World Service.

It's unmatched. Best in the world, IMHO.

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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on January 21, 2015 at 17:21

Of couse, I certainly do understand why you left New Zealand. My visit there in 1996 will, I'm sure, remain the only time for me.

@Clive Honestly, you really don't get it do you? The BBC World Service is no different to other Government sponsored services. In that it puts the British point of view, out into the world. Just grandstanding that it's the 'Best in the world' simply won't do. Do you actually know any others apart from CNN? DW or France2 for instance?

I was in fact, referring to foreign language stations available for free on your TV. There is a joint German-French public broadcasting TV channnel with top quality content available everywhere in both countries simultaneously in French & German http://www.arte.tv/de . Also in Germany, a joint pb German, Austrian & Swiss TV channel http://www.3sat.de/index.html . There isn't even a joint British-Irish station and I can hear you smirking at the idea of one. (that's how insular the country is). A joint French-English language service and a parallel English-German one are great ideas for using the BBCThree & BBCFour platforms. The quality stuff could be transferred back to BBCTwo which is generally dreadful these days. 

On the other hand, your TV channels drown in US American TV dross. No wonder, that the majority have minimal knowledge of the culture of your neighbours.

@John D Is that the best you could do? How sad!

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Permalink Reply by John D on January 21, 2015 at 18:12

No, I could do a lot better but that was just a joke.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on January 22, 2015 at 0:41

Stephen, I'm afraid I don't watch television. The BBC World Service is radio and has all the advantages of penetration, intimacy and immediacy inherent to radio. The World Service is not a Government service.

In particular, the World Service broadcasts in some 30 languages for unequalled global reach. More correspondents in more places than anyone else. I do get that it's matchless and that certainly will do!

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on January 19, 2015 at 9:44

A thoughtful view from Adam Gopnik - writer for the New Yorker magazine. It's a ten minute podcast of the broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 9 January 2015. He lived in Paris with his family for five years. 

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on January 19, 2015 at 10:48

Thanks for the link Alan. I listened to it. I've always admired the separation in France, of state and religion and believe that to be a model for other nations.

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