French ‘fixer’ claims Australian journalist “hungry for sensationalism”
French "fixer" hired to help organise filming spills on what an Aussie journo wanted in news coverage of the Paris attacks.
- Published by David Knox
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A journalist from Sydney was “hungry for sensationalism” reporting from the aftermath of the Paris attacks, according to a French “fixer” hired to help organise filming.
French magazine L’Express has published claims by the anonymous fixer that a journalist from “a show that has many viewers and a big budget” only refers to the reporter by the pseudonym James.
He claimed the journalist had a “joyful excitement” at the prospect of survivors crying for the cameras and described him as a “manufacturer”, not a journalist.
“His idea is this: for him, the attacks targeted ‘the music’. So, what interests him is the ‘response’ of music facing barbarism. And for that, he wants specific things. A survivor, artists and, as I understand just as quickly, the sensational.”
When the fixer found someone who had been inside the Bataclan music venue , “He thanked me, but demanded quickly: ‘They were where in the pit?'”
He also asked to arrange an interview with French singer Edith Piaf, before learning she died in 1963.
Several Australian television networks sent reporters to Paris to cover the Paris terrorist attacks.
Via: Fairfax
13 Responses
Sadly with commercial TV networks struggling everything about them is now commercial including news and current affairs. Just as the Australian car industry has folded competing on the world market so will commercial TV.
Standard MO for just about everybody in commercial television.
Having just watched Sunday Night I’m convinced beyond any doubt that this was somebody from Seven.
Same here.
That first girl they spoke to in Sunday Night’s “exclusive” interviews re the Bataclan attack wasn’t even there.
She claimed to know a couple of the young guys killed in the attack but all she could say is they were great guys .
Maybe I’m being too cynical but it appeared she was more interested in gaining publicity for her singing career as she is now going to release a song about the attack…
Not surprised here….not the first time…wont be the last…..
My understanding is this one refers to a Producer.
Nothing would surprise me. It might be embellished a little; but journos often have a preconceived notion of their script and simply shoehorn the content to fit the brief. Such approaches have always existed. But the Piaf thing is genuinely funny! Maybe he wanted to interview Marion Cotillard who played Piaf on screen. Major egg on face.
There were hundreds of journalists in Paris doing similar stuff. The British and US tabloids are no better. It’s just that guy was working for an Australian idiot.
Sounds like channel 7.. everything is an “exclusive” or “major investigation” or “breaking news” even though it was reported 2 hours earlier.. remember sunrise attempt at Anzac Day 2007.
Think you need to take these “anonymous” articles with a grain of salt. If the story is true why not put some names to it and stand by your claims.
I imagine discretion is a much-sought after skill in that line of work.
If discretion was such a “skill” why did the story come out in the first place?
isn’t really a skill?…. Its called spreading rumours….
they should stand by their claims…….you cant get in trouble for telling the truth.
“you cant get in trouble for telling the truth”
Tell that to wikileaks, Snowden etc etc etc…