Common Themes and News Topics During the Semester

Overall this semester I have noticed many trends in the news and media system in Monaco and Luxembourg and some interlinking.

One big characteristic I noticed was the lack of opinion especially regarding foreign relations. Monaco is not part of EU and for the most part that can be seen in its news content. Most content is local and the news that is not local is reported on because it has some effect on the country (ex. Volcano in Iceland). That being said its strong ties to France acts as a bridge between Monaco and the rest of the European community.

News in Luxembourg circles around business and the bank system along with the dealings with government. It is a member of the EU, but this does not make it any easier to find any thing other than local news on the country. I was very surprised to find nothing being printed or broadcasted over the course of the semester in regards to the financial crisis in Greece and the Euro currency in general.

Other individual subjects frequently reported on included the Monaco Grand Prix, the Odeon towers, and the weather and its effects on events such as the Cannes Film Festival in France and tourism.

By reporting on Monaco I learned about the influence of France on the country. News content in Monaco revolves around France and other French-speaking countries. France especially in the Southern region dedicates a large portion of their media content to news in Monaco. I noticed the power of the RTL group, a media conglomerate that primarily operates out of Monaco and France. I also learned from research that one of the key reasons cited in why their constitutional monarchy is very successful today is because of the great relationship the royal family and the government in general has with the media.

By reporting on Luxembourg I learned about how Luxembourg has a substantial influence on media in the European community especially in the broadcasting genre. I learned that Luxembourg is a hidden media giant and operates/owns many media companies in various European countries.

I have come to realize that the two driving forces behind these two small countries' successful media systems, local and foreign is language and money. Both countries have several widely-spoken languages creating diverse media opportunities. Monaco's use of the French language gives them foreign opportunities not only in France but in the UN and other French-speaking organizations. Also their language capacities helps promote good relations between themselves and other countries. Both countries have a high standard of living and strong local economies giving them the resources to invest in media and more specifically new technology. These two small countries are not to be underestimated. I wish I could have learned more about Monaco, but it was hard finding credible sources. I hope to learn more about their media systems and endeavors in the future.

OECD Releases Luxembourg Economic Survey for 2010

The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) released the economic survey for 2010 stating that Luxembourg must work on its labor market and its role in the international financial crisis, Monday.

According to the OECD website, "an Economic Survey is published every 1½-2 years for each OECD country." This year Luxembourg's survey cites pitfalls in its labor market specifically with the minimum wage. It also goes into detail regarding how Luxembourg will have to adapt to changes most likely to be put in place by the European Union in response to the international financial crisis.

"Some of the recommendations support suggestions made by ministers, such as a pay review which rewards workers based on merit rather than obligation, an idea previously backed by ministers Francois Biltgen and Octavie Modert," as reported on hello.news352.lu

Please view the video below to learn more about the OECD as an organization.

Video Courtesy of Youtube.com

Other recommendations made for Luxembourg by the OECD can be seen on their website along with the economic survey reports for other countries.

Monaco's Shorelines Threatened by Stormy Seas

Immense damages caused by high waves to Monaco's shorefront businesses expected to have a negative effect on both the Grand Prix and Cannes Festival.

Larvotto beach was hit by giant waves causing damages to many shops and restaurants including the Monte Carlo Beach Club. With the Monaco Grand Prix 2010 set to take place from May 13th to May 16th and the Cannes Film Festival set for May 12th to May 23, these damages are expected to be devastating for tourism during this events.

"Everything in the path of the violent seas was swept away, a disaster made all more poignant by the fact that over winter the beach has been completely renewed and with many new facilities added and others renovated," reports monaco247.

Storm damages occured in other mediterranean country shorelines especially in Nice located in the south of France. "Freak waves caused millions of Euros of damage to waterfront cafes and restaurants in Cannes Vieux Port and La Croisette," says liveyachting.com.

Below is a video that displays the same storm that hit Monaco, in Cannes.

 

Video Courtesy of youtube.com.

Bank Thieves Cause Blockade in Monaco

After a bank theft of 103, 400 Euros, Monaco officials blockaded all entry and exit points into the country, Monday.

According to the Riviera Times, five men and two women entered the Credit Foncier Monaco Bank in the afternoon and one of the men dropped "a wallet full of money on the floor," prompting a teller to pick it up as another one of the theives moved behind the counter and grabbed the cash.

After news of the theft a complete country blockade was arranged with "rigourous checks" performed at all entry points. No sign of the group was stopped in the process of this blockade but one of the women thieves was caught by the bank manager immediately following the theft. Being taken into custody, this woman alleged that the group came "to pickpocket but had changed their plans when they 'noticed' the 'opportunities,'" as reported by the Riviera Times.The exit blockade did not yield any suspects despite the use of extensive French resources.

Aerial view of the Credit Foncier Bank located

on the Port Hercule

Photo Courtesy of nicerendezvous.com

Former Monaco Minister of State Died

Jean-Paul Proust, former Monaco Minister of State died Wednesday night, just 10 days after resigning from his position that he held for almost five years. He was best known for his efforts in removing Monaco from "uncooperative" status in regards to tax issues. He also worked on the implementation of public housing.

According to the Monaco-IQ, he had "been ill for several months before quitting the post of Monaco's Minister of State after finishing his 5 year term."

Proust also facilitated in strengthening the already strong relations between France and Monaco.

Reporters Without Borders Report for Luxembourg

Luxembourg is currently placed in the 20th spot on most recent publication of the Press Freedom Index on the Reporters Sans Frontieres website.

This is a sharp fall from its number two spot it was displayed in just a year ago. Luxembourg and other European countries are cited as reasons showing how countries with a low rank can no longer look up to Europe as the ideal media safe-haven for journalists being that many European countries have fell many places.

Other countries that drastically fell from spots were France, Croatia and Kazakhstan.

Luxembourg has come far since 2002 when it was accused by the European Court of Human Rights for violating a journalist's rights, by improving relations with media and being more aware of journalist's rights.

Freedom House Press Reports

Both countries are considered relatively "free" countries when it comes to the press as it does when it comes to business in general.

Freedomhouse.org is a an organization that acts as a watchdog specifically looking at media all countries around the world. They report on the news but especially when it comes to news regarding freedom of the press. The countries' freedom is determined by a method of applying a number to three categories with 0 being the best and 100 being the worst. This number is decided after answering 23 questions about the said country and then assessing its' freedom in depth.

Photo Courtesy of http://www.photius.com/

For Luxembourg, the numbers are low (good) with legal environment being a 2, political environment being a 3, and economic environment being a 7, making the total score a low 12 thus declaring the country a "free" country. Freedoms of speech and press are guaranteed in the constitution with the country employing "an independent press council deals with press complaints and ethical questions." Its immense freedom allows this rich media country to influence many other countries especially in Western Europe. According to a 2007 report, the country has not been a place where any journalists have been attacked or harrassed. Newspapers are privately owned thus adding to the freedom of the press. Also with new media rising the internet is still very much unrestricted in Luxembourg promoting media growth and strength is this country.

Monaco has a slightly higher (worse) freedom number than Luxembourg but is still considered "very free" with a number of 16. According to freedomhouse.org, this country is given a 3 for legal environment, a 7 for political environment, and a 6 for economic environment. Freedom of expression is guaranteed as well for citizens of Monaco but as said in a previous post, the exception to this freedom is the prosecution of any citizen who "denounces the ruling family." Most of the media in Monaco is government-owned in comparison to Luxembourg but this does not stop the country from being a free country. Also like Luxembourg, Monaco gives its citizens unrestricted internet access.

In relation to our country, the United States, Luxembourg and Monaco can be considered more "free" countries when it comes to media. The United States merits a slightly higher number of 17 by freedomhouse.org. This number though is not too much higher therefore we can derive from this observation that to live in Monaco or Luxembourg, the media system and make-up would be similar to our country.