INTERVIEW
In these times of coronavirus, the media that can no longer send journalists to the field rely on the work of the agency France-Presse (AFP), a global news agency that provides articles, infographics, photographs and videos to many media. But how do AFP journalists work? At the microphone of Europe 1, Philip Chetwynd gave some elements of response. Guest of Philippe Vandel in Culture Médias , AFP's director of information returned to the organization of the work of his teams for several weeks.
>> LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation on Friday 8 May
"We tried to make the most of telecommuting"
In exceptional crises, the agency had to use exceptional means, while respecting health security measures. Thus, a large part of the 1,700 AFP journalists around the globe had to confine themselves. "Immediately, we tried to make the most of telecommuting. It is quite easy for journalists who do not need much equipment," said Philip Chetwynd, citing as an example the journalists in charge of editing the dispatches of AFP.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> Partial unemployment: the parents' situation clarified
> A new inflammatory disease affecting children linked to the coronavirus?
> What will shopping be like after May 11?
> The French will have to go on vacation near their home
> Why going to the hairdresser will cost more after confinement
"The complexity was to set up the editing systems for video and photo," said the agency's director of information. Because the confinement also allowed AFP teams to film with drones from totally deserted cities. Besides the videos, another AFP service was particularly watched. Because if the epidemic posed constraints, it also highlighted the fact checking site of AFP, whose attendance in March 2020 was equivalent to the whole of 2019, informs Philip Chetwynd.
"We don't force anyone to go out under these conditions"
The adaptation of reporters going to the field was also special, says Philip Chetwynd, because each individual reacts "differently to the crisis". Thus, the reports in the zones where the epidemic is particularly strong were "carried out on a voluntary basis". "We do not force anyone to go out in these conditions," says the director of information of AFP.
The France-Presse agency also had to make sure that everyone who needed them had enough masks and suits. So the AFP journalists did not have to give up on a subject for lack of means. However, says Philip Chetwynd, all of them have been questioned time and time again. "Each time, we asked difficult questions. We asked ourselves the same questions whether we ask ourselves on the cover or not of a real war."
>> Find all of Philippe Vandel's programs in replay and podcast here
Sport represents "between 30 and 40% of the agency's dispatches"
But the epidemic has also had a real impact on the economy of AFP. As a result of confinement, all sports competitions have been canceled or postponed. However, sport represents "between 30 and 40% of the agency's dispatches," according to Philip Chetwynd. Fortunately, the gradual deconfinement in Europe suggests a return to the field
From the weekend of May 16, the Bundesliga will also resume its rights the weekend of May 16. The matches will be played in empty stadiums, but nothing is yet determined on the presence or not of the photographers. "We are in discussions with the sports authorities to understand under what conditions the media can work. For us, it is extremely important that they are taken into account in all these discussions and that there is the capacity for the media to 'be present in stadiums,' concludes Philip Chetwynd.