This is a first in the history of Europe 1. Worried about the editorial shift already initiated by its (future) boss Vincent Bolloré, the employees decided on Friday afternoon to go on strike until Monday morning. This action, voted almost unanimously, “ aims to obtain from management the cancellation of the disciplinary proceedings initiated “Against a journalist from the editorial staff,” latest illustration of an authoritarian and unsuitable management at work in Europe 1 “, Say the strikers.
The day before, the Society of Editors and the station’s intersyndicale published a column in Le Monde to warn about the future of radio, all of whose strings seem to be pulled by the billionaire, who became the largest shareholder of the Lagardère Group through the intermediary by Vivendi. ” He now has free rein to make his project a reality … without even needing to buy the radio station. », Notes the collective. ” The sidelining of “house” votes and their probable replacement by newcomers “seen on CNews”, as well as the method of dismissing those who express their disagreement too loudly show us that this project is underway. »
Another proof of this disturbing turn: the recent censorship of Christine Berrou. The comedian had planned a valve on Eric Zemmour in his column this weekend. A joke that obviously did not please his hierarchy since it asked him to delete it. ” I’m sure if I had made this joke with Jean Castex or Emmanuel Macron, no one would have said anything to me … », Believes the columnist who has decided to resign from the Parisian, after seven years of good and loyal service.
This censorship is all the more alarming as several personalities approached on the future re-entry grid of Europe 1 officiate on CNews, alongside Eric Zemmour and Pascal Praud. In particular Dimitri Pavlenko, the probable successor of Matthieu Belliard in the morning. Has the polemicist become – already – untouchable?
Growing discomfort
Bolloré’s reign officially begins on June 30, eleven months before the presidential elections. But behind the scenes, he’s already done some damage. As at Canal + in 2015, the triumphant left-wing channel of the 80s emptied of its substance by removing the Guignols de l’Info, or iTele in 2016, renamed CNews and deeply transformed, the almighty king of the media is counting well cleaning up Europe 1.
In the spring, a voluntary departure plan was initiated in the station to cut around forty positions and straighten out the accounts, in the face of declining audiences. The tension then rose a notch after the announcement, in mid-May, of a merger with the ultra-conservative news channel – or rather opinions – of the Canal + group, a subsidiary of Vivendi.
The bridges are already being put in place. In addition to the departure of Matthieu Belliard for the benefit of Dimitri Pavlenko, the head of the political service Michaël Darmon is asked to give way to the star host of CNews Sonia Mabrouk, to host “The big meeting”. And according to Le Monde, Laurence Ferrari, presenter of “Punchline” and the morning political interview on CNews, should soon be received by management.
« In three weeks, the situation suddenly deteriorated, it is as if the company had really changed hands, there is an acceleration in social violence », Confides to AFP a journalist of the radio who wished to remain anonymous. ” For some time now, it’s been seeing people come out of the editor’s office crying, people who are not well, exhausted, angry or sad to see this company go down like this. »
With less than a year before the presidential elections, we can be sure that these maneuvers are at least as much political as they are in the media.
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