TV / Radio Reporter & Producer
Debating on the state of inequality in France and Europe - on TRT World (July 2023)
On 27 June, a 17-year-old French boy of Moroccan and Algerian descent was shot and killed by police in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. Protests immediately erupted, which later escalated into rioting as demonstrators set cars alight, destroyed bus stops, and shot fireworks at police. The scale of the violence has been blamed on fundamental inequalities across French society. But, is inequality really worse in France than elsewhere?
Guests: Lester Holloway, Editor of the The Voice; Melissa Chemam, French Journalist; Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Lancaster University
Commenting on the state of the police in France on Channel 4 News (July 2023)
‘People feel like the police are constantly attacking them’, says French-Algerian journalist Melissa Chemam
With Jackie Long, Social Affairs Editor and Presenter:
ACCENTS DU MONDE sur RFI
Débat des rédactions en anglais, espagnol et chinois sur le nouveau pacte financier au service du climat. Juin 2023: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/accents-du-monde/20230623-un-nouveau-pacte-financier-au-service-du-climat?fbclid=IwAR1-XDgDxtWxhS94zi5lhMM5F7R1RXxBaDAo3Mqjc49rXI7V2-SSHI32VF4&ref=tw
La France face aux coups d'État au Niger et au Gabon. Sept. 2023: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/accents-du-monde/20230908-afrique-la-france-face-aux-coups-d-%C3%A9tat
Ahead of COP15 on biodiversity (Dec. 2022)
Interview with Zitouni Ould-Dada, FAO.
On DW : https://www.dw.com/fr/cop15-interview-fao-attentes/av-64011141
Kader Attia - Interview - DW radio (Sept. 2022)
On DW: Refugee Food Festival - Marseille (June 2022)
on DW - for World Refugee Day : https://www.dw.com/fr/allemagne-limiter-vitesse-refugee-food-festival/av-62214245
On DW: Protesting against the Nationality and Borders Bill (Feb. 2022)
Insight into protests in Bristol: https://www.dw.com/fr/podcast-vu-allemagne-braconnage-loi-nationalit%C3%A9-angleterre/av-60783274
On DW: Bristol, Green City
Living Planet: How green and efficient is a local currency? Link:
https://www.dw.com/en/living-planet-how-green-and-efficient-is-a-local-currency/av-49083362
Writer for BBC Radio 4
On BBC Radio 4: An Installation by Lubaina Himid - 50 years of 'Ways of Seeing' (2022)
A commission around the anniversary of the groundbreaking book on art by John Berger. Listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00132xf
Guest on NPR
On US Radio NPR: France/Algeria (Oct. 2021)
60 years after a massacre in Paris, French-Algerians are still pushing for justice - Listen here: https://www.npr.org/2021/10/21/1048130180/60-years-after-a-massacre-in-paris-french-algerians-are-still-pushing-for-justic
Researcher for different TV programmes
TV researcher
For a new project in the making: A historical drama based on real events... For a television series.
TV series: 'The Islands' on the Falklands War - from 1982 (2021/23)
I've worked as the main researcher for The Islands, a 10-episode drama series, in the works from BBC alum Stephen McDonogh’s Lone Wolf Pictures, Axel Kuschevatzky, Phin Glynn and Cindy Teperman’s Infinity Hill as well as The Whole Spiel, the company launched last year by former NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy and his cousin, Stefan Telegdy.
The series tells the story of the Falklands-Malvinas War of 1982 from the point of view of the people who were there and with the involvement of writers and filmmakers from both UK and Argentina. Writing is already underway, with Argentine film and TV writer Sebastian Rotstein (El Presidente Season 2, Morir de Amor) on board.
TV series: 'Exterminate All The Brutes' (HBO, 2021 / Arte, 2022)
I've worked as the main researcher for the award-winning Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck for years, on and off from 2006 to 2018. On films such as 'The Young Karl Marx', 'Fatal Assistance' and 'I Am Not Your Negro'.
Our projects are about colonialism and white supremacy, centred on figures such as Malcolm X, Frantz Fanon and the books by Sven Lindqvist 'Exterminate All the Brutes' and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
The latest is this series for HBO launched in April 2021, I did most of the research for it. Details here: https://www.hbo.com/exterminate-all-the-brutes
On Arte from 2022: https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/095727-001-A/exterminez-toutes-ces-brutes-1-4/
Researcher for Velvet Film on 'I Am Not Your Negro'
A film on James Baldwin and Race in America
I've worked as the main researcher for the award-winning Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck for years, on and off, from 2006 to 2018. On films such as 'The Young Karl Marx', 'Fatal Assistance' and 'I Am Not Your Negro'.
'The Young Karl Marx'
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfMoE_RWeDQ
ICA Cinema releases The Young Karl Marx (dir. by Raoul Peck) in selected cinemas from 4 May 2018, and later on different TV networks in the UK, US, France...
I was the main researcher on this film on an off from 2006 to 2017. BFI - details : https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5ae52323da3d1
DVD - 'The Young Karl Marx'
DVD Bonus : Exclusive interview with Raoul Peck, by Melissa Chemam (20mn)
TV and Radio Interventions on my book on Massive Attack & Bristol
On France24, in Feb. 2019: How Bristol became a musical and artistic melting pot.
Link to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB7N3qcaIW4
On BBC Radio 4, talking about the song 'Unfinished Sympathy'
With the likes of photographer Giles Duley, on the brilliant programme 'Soul Music'. Listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00120hq
Sur France Inter (2021)
POP N' CO par Rebecca Manzoni - Samedi 13 mars 2021 : Massive Attack et le son de Bristol - 54 minutes
Lien pour écouter https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/pop-n-co/pop-n-co-13-mars-2021
On Banksy's Bristol - for Arte TV
I'm interviewed in this programme: À Bristol, Banksy fait le mur - Invitation au voyage - ARTE TV (France/Germany, 2019)
Watch here: https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/106215-051-A/invitation-au-voyage-nos-inspirations/
BBC Bristol: On my book
Upload on BBC Radio Bristol - Melissa Chemam talks about Massive Attack and how Bristol influenced them.
On SOHO Radio with Mark Stewart (2019)
On James Endeacott's show - Listen here: https://www.mixcloud.com/sohoradio/morning-glory-2101019/
Interviewer for the Royal British Legion's communications campaigns - from 2019
Armed Forces Veterans Talk about RBL's Support (2022)
"They don’t know you, but they're willing to risk everything for you."
Armed Forces Veterans Talk about RBL's Support (2021)
From peacekeeping missions to supporting the UK’s response to Covid-19, our Armed Forces perform incredible tasks every day. And we’re here through thick and thin to ensure their selfless contribution is never forgotten. Read more here: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about-us/armed-forces-community-support
Anita's story (2019)
Anita talks about how we helped her husband Daughter adapt to civilian life. For more information visit www.rbl.org.uk
Freelance reporter from France, the UK, beyond
CBC: Charlie Hebdo Coverage from Paris
Media split on publishing Prophet Muhammad cartoons - Jan 9, 2015
On RFI & RFI English (2013-15)
On Jo'burg's new musical generation
Reportage for 'World Music Matters' on RFI: https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20131215-motel-mari
On BBC World News
Reporting live on the BBC International TV network, about a military coup in Niger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRmnrO4YXX0
Africa Express - sur BBC Afrique
Reportage sur la journée de concerts d'Africa Express à Paris, été 2009 :
BBC Afrique - East Africa
Sample - Reportage de Melissa Chemam au Kenya et en Ouganda à l'occasion de la journée de lutte contre le paludisme: https://www.bbc.com/afrique/nos_emissions/2011/04/110425_minimag_melissa
BBC Afrique - From London, Nairobi, Paris...
Samples here: https://audioboom.com/melissachemam
On France Culture
54-min documentary on immigrants and citizenship in France (in French): https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/sur-les-docks-14-15/votants-premiere-generation
On France Culture
More programmes and reportages - in French: https://www.franceculture.fr/personne-melissa-chemam
Journalist, Reporter, Researcher...