“Continue and transform the collective fight”. The elders of JDD, who left the newspaper because of its shift to the right, launched an association for “freedom, pluralism and independence of the media” on Monday during an evening in Paris. At the Théâtre du Châtelet, they are organizing an “independence night for a free press”, which is intended to be “a festive and combative event”, with the participation of musicians, comedians, actors as well as politicians, according to the program .
The price of places ranges from 5 to 50 euros, depending on the choice of a “citizen”, “support” for the association or even “benefactor” price. The Sunday Journal was shaken by a historic editorial strike, lasting for forty days, against the appointment at its head at the end of June of Geoffroy Lejeune, former editorial director of Current Valuesmarked on the far right.
90% of the editorial staff left “Le JDD”
Many observers see in his arrival the hand of Vincent Bolloré, a billionaire with opinions known to be ultra-conservative. Vivendi, Vincent Bolloré’s group which owns Canal+ and its channels (including CNews and C8), is in fact in the process of absorbing Lagardère, owner of JDDof Paris Match and Europe 1.
Some 90% of the writing of the JDD, which included around a hundred people, have left or are in the process of leaving the title, according to the alumni collective. With the new association, it is about “continuing to carry our values” and “reaching out to the general public”, indicates a spokesperson.
Work is also underway with parliamentarians, who have proposed making public aid to the media conditional on editorial independence mechanisms. A debate will be held on this subject on Monday with three deputies, including two from the presidential majority.
The States General of Information, Emmanuel Macron’s electoral campaign promise, in 2022, has also just been put on track.
A new Sunday newspaper
Scheduled until the summer of 2024, they should result in proposals for legislative modifications as well as recommendations to players in the sector on subjects as diverse as the reliability of information, the independence of journalists and the protection of sources. The French are called upon to contribute to this.
After the crisis JDD, the weekly reappeared at the beginning of August and adopted a very committed line to the right. A new Sunday newspaper, La Tribune Sundaywas published at the end of last week and is a direct competitor, also with Le Parisien/Today in France.