The editorial director of the French regional daily Provence was dismissed after a judged ” ambiguous » from the newspaper on the visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Marseille as part of the fight against drug trafficking. In response, journalists voted 79% on Friday March 22 for an indefinite strike, denouncing a “ unacceptable editorial interference “.
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The newspaper, owned by the shipowner CMA CGM, will not appear from Saturday March 23. “ This is unacceptable editorial interference, we cannot let this pass », Reacted to AFP Audrey Letellier, union representative of the National Union of Journalists (SNJ), the majority in the editorial staff. The union denounces “ political pressures “.
The dismissal of the editorial director follows the publication on Thursday March 21 of a headline: “ He left and we are still here…”, on the front page. It was accompanied by a photo showing two people, from behind, watching police officers pass by on patrol in a city, 48 hours after the president’s surprise visit on Tuesday in the Mediterranean city. He was there to launch an operation described as “ unprecedented » against drug trafficking.
Following this publication, editorial director Aurélien Viers was laid off for a week, management indicated, confirming information from the majority SNJ union in the company. The union also mentions a summons for an interview prior to dismissal, which is the rule in this area, without prejudging the outcome.
One who “ lead into error », for management
In an insert “ To our readers » published Friday on the front page of the newspaper, the director of the publication, Gabriel d’Harcourt, presents the ” deepest apologies » of the newspaper following this publication, which “ misleads our readers “.
“ This front page quote and the accompanying photo illustration may have led people to believe that we were complacently giving voice to drug traffickers determined to taunt public authority, which in no way reflects the values and editorial line of your journal », he writes.
On the inside pages, in one of the articles on aftermath of the presidential visitthis quote was attributed to an inhabitant of the impoverished town of Castellane: “ It’s funny, Brahim reacts,Tuesday they found all the necessary means to supervise the president’s visit. He left, and we are still here, in the same trouble “. Other articles mentioned the “ guerrilla on the communications field » between dealers and the Ministry of the Interior, or “ behind the scenes of an improvised presidential show “.
“ The rest of the editorial treatment is very good », Declared publishing director Gabriel d’Harcourt, confirming this layoff announced by the majority National Union of Journalists (SNJ). But even if the quote is correctly attributed on the inside page, “ the problem comes from the construction of the front page, which can lead to this interpretation “. This in particular with a surtitle “ Drug trafficking: 24 hours after the president’s visit to Castellane “, he added.
“ We have the impression that we are spokespersons for the drug dealers “, what ” is contrary to our values and the role we want to play in Marseille and the region », added Mr. d’Harcourt.
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Writing ” scandalized »
The decision “ scandalized the editorial staff », According to a representative of the SNJ. The strike was called to demand the lifting of sanctions against Mr. Viers, who arrived at the start of 2023 at the head of the editorial staff.
Judging the management’s explanations “ surreal “, this representative of the SNJ considered that it was a ” pretext “. “ We know that yesterday (THURSDAY) there was political pressure and Gabriel d’Harcourt was summoned to the tower », she told AFP, referring to the skyscraper of the Marseille headquarters of the shipowner CMA CGM, owner of the newspaper.
Questioned by AFP, Mr. d’Harcourt refuted any pressure. “ It’s a decision that I make, with Jean-Christophe Tortora (boss of WhyNot Media, the media subsidiary of the shipowner CMA CGM) and Laurent Guimier (WhyNot Media news boss),” he said.
Acquisition of BFMTV and RMC
CMA CGM and its boss, billionaire Rodolphe Saadé, have demonstrated in recent years big ambitions in the media. His wife Véronique Albertini-Saadé is the non-executive president of WhyNot Media.
In October 2022, the shipowner became the owner of the La Provence group (regional daily newspapers Provence And Corsica Morning). He entered the capital of the audiovisual group M6 at the end of 2022, then, at the beginning of April 2023, that of the online video media Brut, before taking control of The gallery via the purchase of Mr. Tortora’s Hima group. And on Friday March 15, he announced the acquisition of Altice Media, which includes BFMTV and RMC.
This layoff comes a few days after Rodolphe Saadé’s attempt to reassure the staff representatives of BFMTV and RMC. He affirmed his desire not to directly interfere in the work of the editorial staff. Thus, this sanction caused the Altice Media unions to react. They indicated that they were in contact with their counterparts from Provence And The gallery for possible joint action. “ We are all obviously scandalized », Explained to AFP Paulina Benavente, SNJ union representative at Altice Media. In response, the editorial staff of The gallery also declared itself in favor of a strike on Tuesday, according to an elected staff member.
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