OSC Views French News Media, German Think Tanks

A detailed and rather opinionated assessment of French media outlets was prepared last year by the Open Source Center (OSC) of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

“Many of the estimated 37,000 French journalists see themselves more as intellectuals than as reporters. Instead of merely reporting events, they often try to analyze developments and influence readers with their own biases. At the same time, many political or economic journalists are educated at the same elite schools as the politicians they cover…. As a consequence, many reporters do not necessarily regard their primary role as being that of a watchdog or a counterweight to the political and economic powers in place.”

See “France — Media Guide 2008” (pdf), Open Source Center, 16 July 2008.

Another OSC document last year provided a survey of think tanks in Germany.

“German policy research institutes influence decisionmaking of the federal and state governments, and their work is becoming more visible in the German media. Many receive government funding, and most maintain close ties with universities. German think tanks include major foreign policy institutes, peace research organizations, economic research institutes, party foundations, and non-traditional think tanks.”

See “German Think Tank Guide” (pdf), Open Source Center, 05 March 2008.

Like most other Open Source Center analyses, these reports have not been approved for public release.  Copies were obtained by Secrecy News.