Talk:Wallonia

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Some discussion might be useful here, before just handling the axe.

Contents 1 Identity concept 2 Facts on politicization of press 3 Volcae and the name Wallonia 4 Cinema 5 Sources

[edit] Identity concept

What is the 'identity concept' mentioned in the first paragraph and why was the old more informative first paragraph removed? 194.9.254.241 09:03, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Facts on politicization of press

After every change in the board of administration, one can find articles in the press with the political color of every individual administrator. The fact on Télé-Bruxelels was confirmed to me by both its then editor in chief, and by a delegate of the association of professional french-speaking belgian journalists. I guess it is not difficult at all toi have it also confirmed by other sources.

Rudy, thanks for your comment. However, I don't believe it is appropriate to write about "Tele-Bruxelles" in an article about Wallonia. You are probably aware that this TV channel has nothing to do with Wallonia. I understood that Brussels was not part of Wallonia. In addition, it is unfortunate that we can only take your experience for granted. It would be far better and would comply with Wikipedia policies (Cite your sources, No original research) if sources would be cited. Don't take it personally. I am sure what you added is correct, but I want that every reader can find authoritative sources to corroborate your findings. These sources should be cited. --Edcolins 21:18, Dec 14, 2004 (UTC)

Right about Télé-Bruxelles, except (minor note) it are exactly the sme political parties deciding on it. But, on the whole, TLB is to be dropped here.

On the other hand, indépendant sources, well, at every nomination round, everybody can find in in many papers, the exact party affiliation or loyalty of every single new administrator. Pour des rappports critiques et de fond, le GERFA est connu.

Thanks again Rudy. I tried to integrate the indicated source. Now, where could we find a source confirming this:

"This sometimes translates in censorship. The dominant French-speaking parties are known to have tried, only a few years ago, to forbide the journalists of a public TV channel from interviewing Flemish politicians."

I am concerned by the rumour status of this statement, although again I am not denying it is probably true. --Edcolins 08:30, Dec 15, 2004 (UTC)

I will check with a contact in the Association des Journalistes Professionelles, and in academia to see if there are more recent studies or other evidence on this.

About the board of directors from the RTB, is there any memeber that is NOT a political nomination?

Aside from that, should this paragraph on press not be moved to the article in the French-speaking Community as that is the appropriate one?

Yes, it is probably better to move the paragraph about the politicization of the media in French-speaking Belgium to the French Community of Belgium, you are right.

Regarding this paragraph, I have two questions however: First, what about the VRT, the Dutch-speaking Belgian public TV, (and what about the BBC by the way, I'll check that)? It would be nice to compare both, if it adds something to the discussion. Secondly, many Belgian politicians are in Boards of directors of bigs companies in Belgium (Elio Di Rupo is member of the Board of Directors of Dexia, one of the main banks in Belgium, for instance), however, this is not considered to be a politicization, why? --Edcolins 08:29, Dec 16, 2004 (UTC)

About VRT, I've been doing some verifications of things I supposed. Politisation apparently also exists, but, according to some people, it would be considerably less. Also, the resulting color at VRT would be less heavily dominated by one political color. Nevertheless, my personal appreciation is that its information is biaised with following 'systematic' bias:

# friendly towards the 'zuilenbestel' (one 'zuil' being the politico-syndicalo-mutual insurrance organisations);

# very indulgent towards the cost of our current de facto political system;

# clearly left leaning (80% of its journalists have said voting on green or red lists);

# very critical of free market enterprise, and very apologetic towards state initiative;

# strong unitaristic preference, strongly anti-Flemish (this has been openly and eplicitely acknowledged in the past by severel senior ex-journalists);

# conservative towards modernisation of our democratic institutions: against referenda, ...

The way this bias is 'implemented' is by often allowing 'subcontractors' spread the propaganda, without asking many (if any at all) critical questions, and even going so far as to allow these subcontractors (friendly academics, politicians, ...) to ell factual lies.

About politicians having mandates in private companies, this is 100X less then what's tought. Di Rupo is rather an exception. On the other hand many politicians, especailly members of parliament, ex-ministers with political mandates etc. have mandates in public companies and organisatins, or cumulate several 'fully paid & full-time mandates'. Di Rupo at one given moment was at the same time mayor of Charleroi, president of the PS, and member of the senate, totally three fat salaries that each required officially full-time work!

Get your facts right... Di Rupo is from Mons, not Charleroi.

[edit] Volcae and the name Wallonia

Please see Wikipedia article on them http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcae The German pejorative term "die Welschen" refers generally to Italians, but is derived from Volcae. In a broader sense it refers to Romance-language speaking peoples. The Walnuss (walnut) comes to Germany from Italy; its name refers to its origins among the "Welschen." I believe the Germanic contact with the Volcae was made when the Volcae lived in Italy.

No. Its is also actual for the Walloons beacause the original wpord is (in old German Walah). See the WP in French to Wallonia.

José Fontaine (my real name on WP in french), but I want to use this name also here.

[edit] Cinema

The section on cinema needs a good cleanup. I've already started correcting the grammar, but at times I don't even understand what is meant. The content itself could be improved as well. --Pauline7 16:38, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sources

"...with a high unemployment rate of up to 20 percent in some regions."

This statement does not cite its source, it is true that there are regions with a very high unemployment rate but it really needs to be verifiable. Cite your sources 217.136.184.180 07:44, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, it is up to 30 percent in some towns in the region of Mons. [1] David Descamps 15:54, 11 December 2006 (UTC)