The editorial staff of the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) massively renewed its strike on Saturday against the arrival at its head of Geoffroy Lejeune (ex-Valeurs Actuelles), extending it until Tuesday, which will make it exceed the duration of the 31-day movement led by i-Télé journalists in 2016, said its Society of Journalists (SDJ).
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The continuation of this strike, which began on June 22, was approved by 98% of voters (98 for, 2 against, 4 who did not decide), said the SDJ in a press release.
In a text published on Twitter with the title “ One month already “, Saturday at the beginning of the afternoon, the editorial staff of the weekly emphasizes its ” unfailing mobilization “in front of a” total break with the identity of a 75-year-old newspaper and reiterates its demands: it remains opposed to the arrival of Geoffroy Lejeune, marked on the far right, and demands guarantees of legal and editorial independence. “ After a month, our requests have still not been heard. Tomorrow, the Sunday Journal will not appear for the fifth time in a row “, she adds. The current movement is unprecedented in the history of the JDD: its previous strike, in 2016, had affected only one Sunday.
This strike says a lot about what is being played out at the moment concerning the independence of the media, freedom of the press and therefore more broadly democracy. This strike is the starting point of an awakening of many people.
Bertrand Greco, president of the SDJ of the JDD: “The strike we are leading is historic”
Many observers see in the appointment of Geoffroy Lejeune the hand of billionaire Vincent Bolloré, whose Vivendi group must swallow Lagardère, owner of JDD, Paris Match and Europe 1, after a successful takeover bid. The situation of the JDD thus recalls the strikes of Europe 1 in 2021 and of i-Télé (become CNews, property of Vivendi) in 2016, concluded each time by massive departures.
Enough to put the question of the independence of the media back on the political agenda. Deputies from eight political groups (excluding RN and LR) notably presented a bill on the subject on Wednesday, while the Elysée formalized the launch in September of the Estates General of Information, expected for a year.
The real risk of media concentration is the reduction of media pluralism, there are also the risks of undermining the independence of journalists.
Violette Spillebout (Renaissance): “They act for the future of the press in France”
The cost of the strike is already heavy for the JDD: each non-publication of the newspaper would result in 500,000 euros in losses, according to a figure revealed by the daily The world and referred to as “ a member of the advertising department at the very beginning of mobilization “JDD journalist Guillaume Caire told AFP on Friday. On the editorial side, it is at the end of the month that the strikers will discover the impact on their pay slips. They will be able to draw on a strike fund amounting for the moment to 70,000 euros.
(And with AFP)