Pharos University In Alexandria Faculty of Mass communication

International Communication

Week :5 Lecture :5

By: Dr: Zenat Abou Shawish

2013

Assessment

Agency FranceAFP

1835Agence Havas foundedCharles Havas creates Agence Havas as Agence des Feuilles Politiques. As the world’s first international news agency, it uses a network of correspondents and translators. Trains and homing pigeons bring in the news to Paris from all over France and other European countries.

1835 — 1875The first offices

From 1835 to 1875, the Agence Havas offices are located on rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau in Paris,opposite the General Post Office.

1845Telegraph first used

The Agency starts to use electrical telegraphs, an invention which enables it

to expand.Soon it is better and faster informed of

what is going on in the world.In response to the Crimean war (1854-

1856) it extends its European network all the way to Saint Petersburg and the

Bosphorus.

1853Succession

Charles-Guillaume and Auguste Havas take over the Agency’s management from their father.

1859Reuter-Wolff-Havas agreementAn agreement between the three

major agencies - Reuter, based in London, Wolff in Berlin, and Havas – divides the world

between them for the collection and dissemination of

information.

Global agencies

1880New means of communication

The telephone, teletype and the long-wave radio come into use and revolutionize the way

in which journalists work. The amount of news increases

dramatically thanks to these new means of transmission and the development of the press

in France.

1896The Agency moves to Place de la Bourse, Paris

 

1930Technological advances

Shortwave wireless transmission profoundly changes the way in which international news can be passed on and brings the alliance of

agencies to an end.

November 25, 1940Havas/O.F.I.

The News section of Havas is nationalised and becomes a government

agency. Two laws establish the separation between the Advertising branch – which retains the name Havas - and the News branch – which becomes state property under

the name French Information Office (OFI).

December 1940Agence Française Indépendante (AFI) founded in London by Paul-Louis Bret

Paul-Louis Bret considers that AFI can represent what remains of free French public

opinion, with the capacity to criticise the Vichy regime. The AFI reaches an agreement with

the British Ministry of Information and Reuters to broadcast a daily French language service of

around 10,000 words across free Europe.

August 20, 1944The birth of AFP

Liberated France’s first dispatch is issued on August 20, 1944.

OFI is renamed Agence France-Presse.

1950Change at AFP headquarters

March 5, 1953Stalin's death: the first scoop

The death of Joseph Stalin, on March 5, 1953, brings AFP a global scoop that will leave its

mark on the fledgling Agency’s history. At the time, foreign journalists in Moscow are unable to instantly transmit news in real time because of the regime’s censorship. AFP, however, was

constantly monitoring Radio Moscow’s domestic

broadcasts from Paris.

1954 — 1975Jean Marin

Jean Marin is appointed CEO. After the vote of the Agence France-Presse Statute in January 1957, he is re-elected every three years and

remained president and CEO until 1975.

1957An international news agency

AFP has 25 bureaus across France, 46 overseas, and 13 in French

overseas territories. It has correspondents in 116 countries

and provides news in 73 countries.

January 10, 1957The AFP Statute

The French Parliament adopts the AFP Statute, guaranteeing its editorial independence, global

presence and financial autonomy. The CEO is now elected by

a Board of Directors.

1969Launch of the Arabic service