WW
I know that it's multilingual, but this is what I was trying to say:
When Euronews launched in 1992, it was promoted by the European Commission as a project that would reflect the multilingual diversity of Europe, in contrast to the likes of CNN, Sky News, BBC World Service Television (as it was known at the time), and so on, which broadcast solely in English. (It's not a coincidence that Euronews was headquartered in France, where the prevalence of English in Europe has historically been resented by the elites.) In fact, the multilingual nature of Euronews is still sometimes presented as a public service that helps to preserve Europe's linguistic diversity.
In truth, however, Euronews ignores those who would need it most: Europe's small and most medium-sized languages (the majority of the EU's official languages is not served by the channel, for instance). Therefore, I don't accept the cultural/political argument that the channel is preserving European multilingualism with its approach. Of course, the decision to focus on widely-spoken European languages is sensible from a commercial standpoint, but Euronews shouldn't then be promoted as culturally-aware bastion of European multilingualism that needs support from European institutions for this very reason.
It's Euronews' format that is preventing it from ever having the life and personality of, say, France 24, let alone BBC World News or CNN International. It's a shame, because the potential is there.
I'm afraid you're incorrect when you state that Euronews doesn't air in most European Languages. It's Default language in the UK and Ireland is English, but in Germany and other German speaking Countries it's German, in France it's French and so on. It had multiple language tracks on sky the last time I looked. I believe it broadcasts in 14 languages in total. That was one of the reasons they had no in vision presenters when it started.
I know that it's multilingual, but this is what I was trying to say:
When Euronews launched in 1992, it was promoted by the European Commission as a project that would reflect the multilingual diversity of Europe, in contrast to the likes of CNN, Sky News, BBC World Service Television (as it was known at the time), and so on, which broadcast solely in English. (It's not a coincidence that Euronews was headquartered in France, where the prevalence of English in Europe has historically been resented by the elites.) In fact, the multilingual nature of Euronews is still sometimes presented as a public service that helps to preserve Europe's linguistic diversity.
In truth, however, Euronews ignores those who would need it most: Europe's small and most medium-sized languages (the majority of the EU's official languages is not served by the channel, for instance). Therefore, I don't accept the cultural/political argument that the channel is preserving European multilingualism with its approach. Of course, the decision to focus on widely-spoken European languages is sensible from a commercial standpoint, but Euronews shouldn't then be promoted as culturally-aware bastion of European multilingualism that needs support from European institutions for this very reason.
It's not bad as a station but it is very dull. France 24 english service (which is carried by TG4 overnight) has a bit more life to it.
It's Euronews' format that is preventing it from ever having the life and personality of, say, France 24, let alone BBC World News or CNN International. It's a shame, because the potential is there.