The arrival of Geoffroy Lejeune (ex-Valeurs Actuelles) at the head of the JDD still does not pass. The editorial staff massively renewed its strike on Friday, which will prevent the publication of the newspaper for the fifth Sunday in a row, several of its members told AFP.
The continuation of the strike for its 29th day was approved by 98% of voters (97 for, 2 against, 4 who did not decide), according to the Society of Journalists (SDJ) of JDD in its daily press release. “There will be no newspaper this Sunday,” said a journalist from JDD. “The editorial staff will meet on Saturday, a symbolic date which will mark a month of strike, to decide on the continuation of the movement”, underlined the SDJ.
An unprecedented movement in the history of the newspaper
But even if the strike is interrupted on Saturday, “I don’t see to what extent there could be a newspaper on Sunday,” said another journalist interviewed by AFP. In the event of continuation of the mobilization beyond Sunday July 23, the JDD will have exceeded the 31 days of strike carried out in 2016 by the editorial staff of iTélé after its passage in the bosom of Vincent Bolloré.
The current movement is in any case unprecedented in the history of the newspaper founded in 1948: its previous strike, in 2016, had affected only one Sunday. The editorial staff stopped work on June 22 to contest the arrival of Geoffroy Lejeune, marked on the far right, and to demand guarantees of legal and editorial independence.
The independence of the media in question
Many observers see in the appointment of Geoffroy Lejeune the hand of billionaire Vincent Bolloré, whose Vivendi group must swallow Lagardère, owner of the JDD, after a successful takeover bid. This put the subject of media independence back on the policy table.
On Wednesday, deputies from eight political groups (excluding RN and LR) notably presented to the National Assembly a bill aimed at protecting the editorial freedom of the media seeking state aid.