Experts on TV are still too rarely experts. On the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, the TF1 group is launching the “Experts à la Une” program for a year, which aims to train experts in the media. Journalist Anne-Claire Coudray explains in Culture Media Tuesday what is this promotion that will accompany 15 women from fields where they are little or badly represented, such as health, justice and politics.
On the program for the “Experts à la Une” promotion, journalist tutoring, editorial staff, including Anne-Claire Coudray and Gilles Bouleau, media training and a sponsorship system, in particular. “During several sessions, we will film these women and confront them with their image, because this is often what blocks them”, explains on Europe 1 to a TF1 journalist.
The brake on the feeling of lack of legitimacy
“Women are afraid of being bad, they are afraid of saying something stupid. And above all they are afraid of not being legitimate, if that is not exactly the subject on which they did their thesis. obviously, we don’t ask them for such a degree of precision!”, analyzes Anne-Claire Coudray. A question of legitimacy that it is more rarely the male experts. “Besides, women often refer to their male colleagues who obviously say yes within a minute.”
“The idea is to confront these experts with this image, so that they can get rid of all these obstacles that prevent them from saying yes to us”, continues the journalist. “Afterwards, they are completely free to say no to us, of course. But, at least, it will be an assumed choice and there will be less frustration on this subject.”
A long-term sponsorship
The sponsorship system of the “Experts à la Une” program makes it possible to support the 15 experts over the long term. “They can call us at any time, if they ever have to go to another medium, so that we can give them some advice”, explains the journalist and godmother. “Advice in particular on how to answer without answering, if the questions embarrass us. Because that’s it too: when we are prepared for this, it encourages us more to say yes to the media that invite us.”
The TF1 and LCI sites are broadcasting a digital program presented by Audrey Crespo-Mara on Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. around the “Experts à la Une” promotion, with in particular Minister Elisabeth Moréno and Olympic judoka Clarisse Abgegnenou.