Five journalists from the France Télévisions editorial team were “put on hold” until July 8 by their management, for having signed an article calling for a “common front against the extreme right”. These five journalists “no longer deal with subjects covering the electoral campaign”, but they “are on the schedule”, said France TV on Friday, which criticizes them for not having complied with the guide to professional practices advocating political neutrality.
On Wednesday, these five members who claim to be from the Society of Journalists (SDJ) of France 3 national editorial team, had signed an article from 90 media, including Mediapart Or Humanitycalling for a “common front” against the extreme right which threatens, according to them, “the freedom of the press”.
“Without a free press, there is no democracy”
“The challenge is to preserve the very possibility of a press independent of political power, pluralist, with journalists exercising their profession in complete freedom. Without a free press, no democracy” states this column, which calls for “supporting the ongoing social and citizen mobilization, which echoes the anti-fascist dynamic of the Popular Front of 1936 in its capacity to go beyond partisan frameworks”.
“This call to vote proves incompatible with the treatment of the electoral campaign on all France Télévisions media,” interested parties are informed, according to the management letter of which AFP has had a copy. “The image of impartiality of the France Télévisions editorial staff is at stake,” adds the letter.
“False interpretation”
According to management, this SDJ is no longer representative since the merger of the editorial staff. The SDJ of the national editorial staff of France Télévisions, which brings together journalists from France 2 and France 3, had indicated, on the social network
One of the five journalists told AFP “to condemn the fallacious interpretation of the management”. “We do not support any political party in this forum but we warn of the dangers that freedom of information may run in the event of a victory for the extreme right.” “This reservation is questionable in substance and form.”