Anthony Bellanger and Bérangère Cagnat

The Speakers

Anthony Bellanger
After studying Spanish in Madrid, Anthony Bellanger began his career as a journalist and literary critic. He was first a freelancer, notably for Radio France Culture, and then gradually specialized in international issues.

In 1999, he began working for Courrier International on the weekly’s website before becoming manager of the Western Europe department, and subsequently news manager. Today, he is in charge of Courrier International’s “France” pages as well as the Spanish press.
As part of his editorial responsibilities, Anthony Bellanger is a television commentator on the all-news channel. Monday through Friday he discusses an international news item in the “Point sur l’Info” (“Focus on the News”) presented by Thierry Dugeon.

He also has a weekly column on Public Sénat (Paroles du monde/World Words), the French Senate’s channel, and another each Sunday on Radio France Culture (Les Retours du dimanche/Sunday Recaps).
And finally since January 9, 2010, Anthony Bellanger has been presenting a new program on Arte, the Franco-German cultural channel. Le Blogueur (The Blogger) is a 26-minute weekly program devoted to Europe.

Bérangère Cagnat
After spending a part of her childhood in Eastern Europe – Bulgaria and Romania for the most part – Bérangère Cagnat studied history and English.

She began her journalistic career as a freelance editor for several French publications, particularly Le Monde Initiatives (The World Initiatives).  

In 2000, she signed on with the weekly Courrier International where she first collaborated on various sections of the magazine: United States, Great Britain, Financial as well as France, and was responsible for supervising several special issues. She joined the North America department in 2005 and is currently head of the United States section. 

As part of her editorial responsibilities, Bérangère Cagnat collaborated with several media outlets, particularly radio stations such as Radio France Internationale. Today she hosts a weekly column on American news on Radio France Info. 

Lectures

Obama, the Press and the French Audience
As elsewhere in the world, the rise of Barack Obama to the White House sent shock waves through France. Even before his election, “Obamania” was palpable throughout the country: support committees sprang up, politicians issued statements, the French public was infatuated – we saw it all.
This phenomenon can be partially explained by the collective sigh of relief after George W. Bush’s two terms, but also by the very particular love-hate relationship that France entertains with the United States. The impassioned relationship is echoed in the French media which has long had its eyes riveted on America.  

Coverage of American news has, furthermore, been considerably expanded in the past few years. Every event, no matter how small, is almost immediately broadcast in France. This tendency can be explained in part by the sheer volume of news coming from the other side of the pond: the 9/11 attack, the war on terrorism, the financial crisis which happened to coincide with the election of the first biracial president.

Another explanation is more mundane: the French media realized that the “Obama phenomenon” would help them to increase their circulation.

Upon request other themes could be touched on by the two speakers, including:

• The evolution of the image and the popularity of the United States in the
  international press and public opinion
• France today, the debate on national identity
• Courrier International : editorial choices, operations, characteristics, etc.
• The work of a journalist

Links

http://www.courrierinternational.com
http://www.alterinter.org/auteur2010.html?lang=fr
http://www.france24.com/en/20090710-this-week-in-the-world-2
http://www.france24.com/en/20090703-the-week-in-the-world-1
http://www.france24.com/en/20090626-the-world-this+week-2

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