Address by Frédéric Mitterrand, Minister of Culture and Communication, on the occasion of the signing of the “Diversity Charter” by the Press

When Mr. Amirouche LAÏDI and the Averroes Club gave me the pleasure of
submitted their annual report to me on February 3, I had the opportunity to
the importance I attach to the consideration of the
diversity and the representation of French society by companies
information and communication sector.

This subject is absolutely decisive for the future of French society. The
France is today a «world country»: it is a chance, it is a
asset, it is a wealth that makes it possible to better face the challenges of a
globalized world but also better connected, better connected. Seize
In this context, we are giving ourselves the means to
together», it is to allow us to reconcile the republican idea and the
the diverse, complex, multicultural reality of 21st century France.

I am particularly committed to this subject because the promotion of the
cultural and media diversity is a lever
to mobilize opinion and change mentalities.
The cultural offer in France is rich, diversified and abundant. It borrows
to the cultures of the worlds, it is a mirror of those cultures which
have shaped the «French crucible»: those of the Maghreb, those of Europe
the Mediterranean, the French Overseas Territories and Black Africa.

In saying this, I do not want to deny the difficulties encountered by the model
Republican and current questions about multiculturalism in
Germany or the UK: the question is not this, the question
is that of the representation that society gives itself of
through its media. This is where the expectation is greatest.

In saying this, I do not want to ignore the difficulty of this
size for companies in the print media sector and this for
at least three reasons:

Any action for diversity must first and foremost take
not to offend the independence of journalists and editors;

Secondly, as we know, there is a situation in the print media
difficult economic for several years, to which we try
appropriate responses, following the Estates General of the
print media;

Finally, it is mainly the image media and thus television that attracted
most diversity observations.

Once these elements are recalled, what means are available to us for
promote the inclusion of diversity in
press?

If, by chance or by will, a "non-compliant" manages to get out
at the professional level, he will meet a new
blocking, due to his name, address, color, and
social origin».
I am pleased to quote you, dear Claude Bébéar, because you have had
the opportunity to make this observation several times. I would like to
of the occasion to salute the commitment that is yours since several
years since you launched, in October 2004, alongside Yazid
Sabeg, the Charter of Diversity. Today it counts more than 3100
signatories, of which 70% are SMEs. This is 20% of the working population
which is therefore concerned.

The promotion of diversity, in fact, must mobilize us over several
fronts. This ranges from training of students and journalists, to recruitment
employees, in the management of pathways, before the
of the production and development of
the dissemination of content.

In all these areas, actions are already underway. I
for example, think of the actions of journalism schools, with the
place mechanisms in two stages: upstream to help young people
from the diversity to pass the course of the competitions; downstream by
grant systems in order to fully or partially finance
training. These good practices and
was one of the objectives of the National Conference of Trades
journalism that I opened last September alongside [the Minister
Higher Education Research] Valérie Pécresse.

For my part, as I announced a few weeks ago, the Department
will organize a day on the theme “Culture, media and diversity” in link
with all institutions (HALDE, CSA, TV and
radio, cultural operators) and associations engaged in this field. I
hopes that this day will be held before the end of June. This is
gather energy, avoid dispersion, make public action
more effective, in other words to give perspective to this
“Diversity Charter” that several important press groups
sign today.

I also want to help media with diversity to broaden their audience.
That’s why I opened a project on the theme «Media and suburbs»,
and I hope that it will lead to concrete initiatives for
neighbourhood media - blogs, fanzines, webzines - who
are genuine laboratories of citizenship. We must support them, the
professionalize, give them an authentic professional foundation:
this is the meaning of the new device on which I am currently working to
an experimental implementation in 2011.

But, in this field as in others, not everything can come from the powers
In order to bring about a profound change in mentalities, it is necessary to
mobilization of all actors. Many instruments are today
available to businesses to measure the
diversity in their daily activities and, more generally, to prevent
any phenomenon of discrimination.

Yazid SABEG, last week supported the publication of the guide
developed by Equity Label and the French Association of
diversity, for companies.

Other instruments exist. I’m thinking of the “AFNOR diversity” standard,
the charters of the SPITZ report, the Contracts of Objectives and Means
(COM) of public operators, but also of course to the Charter of the
diversity in business” for which we are gathered today.

The objective must be clear: to encourage the greatest number of media
in favour of an equitable representation of social and cultural diversity
of our country. The observation is there, it is shared by many studies:
it is now a matter of acting and moving forward! I intend to ensure that the
Ministry of Culture and Communication either exemplary or strong
action and mobilization. It is in this capacity that
I have announced my department’s commitment to a
certification recognized by the AFNOR standard.

More than tools, they are principles and a vision for society
of the 21st century, a society rich in its
pluralism, its diversity, a society open to the cultures of the world
curious about their wealth. This is the “French melting pot”: recognizing
to the multitude of cultures, memories and histories the ability to
constitute a social body gathered and not fragmented. Access to places
culture can contribute powerfully, at the service of this 'humanism
of diversity” that Alain Renaut is calling for.

But there can be no diversity without a diversity policy. I
wishes that we work together to make this requirement
a reality better understood and better shared in the
present. You will sign the Diversity Charter, I care about you in
congratulate. You are now part of a pioneering process,
exemplary; I am sure that you will find the support of your
and that you will be the first to
beneficiaries.

Thank you.