The leading French newspaper "Le Journal du Dimanche" did not publish today, Sunday, due to a strike by its staff protesting the appointment of a new editor-in-chief by the owning company, who was previously the head of a far-right magazine. The French media group Lagardère, which owns the newspaper, appointed Geoffroy Lejeune as the new editor-in-chief on Friday, replacing Jérôme Béglé, who left for "Paris Match."
Lejeune was previously the editor of the controversial magazine Valeurs Actuelles, which has stirred debate by publishing covers that are anti-immigrant and was fined for racist offenses in 2022. This move comes just two weeks after the European Commission gave conditional approval for the media group Vivendi, controlled by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, to acquire Lagardère.
The French government intervened today for the first time. Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak stated, "I understand the concerns of the newsroom. Legally, Le Journal du Dimanche can become whatever it wants, as long as it adheres to the law. But regarding the values of our Republic, how can one not feel concerned?"
The head of the international organization Reporters Without Borders condemned what he called a "brutal way" of asserting shareholders' control over the newsroom, conflicting with "the fundamental rules of journalism." Meanwhile, Lejeune stated he is "honored" to lead a prestigious printed newspaper like "Le Journal du Dimanche."
