With broadcasting in 180 countries reaching more than 500 million households,
France 24
has been, for almost 18 years, the major international French news channel.
Present since the creation of the channel in 2006,
Vanessa Burggraf
has experienced all the adventures, from journalist to director.
She returns to the vocation of this news channel not quite like the others:
“The political will was to have a free and independent international channel like BBC World or CNN International.
We are not a government channel and we do not carry the message of the State
,” she explains.
“France 24 is a public service channel with public service missions.
We cover international news but we are above all a decryption channel.
We want to give keys to our viewers to help them understand this increasingly complicated and increasingly threatening world.”
To discover
TV tonight: our selection of the day
From Monday, France 24 is changing its face with a new editorial offer and a new look.
“We will have more live broadcasts with more sections of information
,” announces Vanessa Burggraf.
“The goal is not to go quickly but to take our time to decipher the three or four major news stories of the day from different angles with different speakers.
We also want more proximity with our audience as with this African news newspaper.
And there will be more fluidity and homogeneity so that hot news, decryption and magazines are better linked together.”
Is France 24 like 100% French news channels like BFMTV, CNews, LCI or franceinfo?
Vanessa Burggraf has a very clear opinion on this subject:
“I watch the French news channels a little and I note that BFMTV remains on Franco-French news, that the international remains important given the progression of LCI and that CNews responds to a request from viewers [...] But CNews is an opinion channel and it is the complete opposite of France 24!
We are a factual, independent channel and we verify our information.
And above all we give everyone a voice so that the viewer can form their own opinion.
In my opinion, a news channel must let all voices be expressed.
On a personal level, what CNews said about abortion as the leading cause of death in the world shocked me as a woman
,” admits Vanessa Burggraf.
“I am shocked that a political party like LFI targets journalists.
It is contrary to democracy and the republican values of France”
Vanessa Burggraf
Attached to freedom of expression, the director of France 24 is just as attached to the words of women, whom she unambiguously supports following the latest cases surrounding Judith Godrèche or Gérard Miller:
“The road is still long, but this what is certain is that speech has been freed, that women are no longer silent and must no longer be silent!
It is also the role of public service media to carry out investigations.
It’s a real turning point and a good thing because the silence weighed on us for a very long time..."
Vanessa Burggraf also supports the journalists who have been victims of the La France Insoumise (LFI) poster campaign since yesterday:
“I obviously condemn and provide my support to Pascal Praud, Christophe Barbier, Nathalie Saint-Cricq and the family Duhamel.
On France 24, our journalists cover the four corners of the world and sometimes become targets of authoritarian regimes.
What shocks me is the targeting of journalists in France.
It is contrary to democracy and our republican values, especially from a political party like LFI.”