The editorial staff of France Télévisions adopt a motion of no confidence against Laurent Guimier

Laurent Guimier, head of information for France 2, France 3 and France Info, was targeted by a motion of no confidence on Thursday June 30. The question posed to the journalists was: “Do you trust Laurent Guimier to direct the information of France Télévisions?”. The vast majority of editors answered « no », at nearly 79.52% against 20.48%. The participation was important since 71%, or 482 voters, according to the figures communicated by the society of journalists (SDJ) of France 2.

The editorial staff of the France Info news channel was the only one to vote in the majority, at 53%, in favor of the one who was its director, from June to September 2020. On the contrary, the journalists of the digital editorial staff of franceinfo. fr voted “no” at 93%, those of France 2 at 86.58% and those of the national editorial staff of France 3 expressed their mistrust at 59%.

A tense situation at France Télévisions

This vote of no confidence was launched to respond to a tense situation within the editorial staff. Two announcements from management, made official on June 23, prompted journalists to speak out. For good reason, they followed financial savings strategies, already numerous in recent years in public broadcasting. The information department has announced that it will not renew five journalists on fixed-term contracts, even though the workforce is already thin. She also shared her intention to rebroadcast, during the summer, reports already programmed on the air.

These highly contested choices upset the work of the journalists of France Télévisions and tarnish the confidence they place in Laurent Guimier. In a context of uncertainty, in particular due to the abolition of the TV license fee announced by Emmanuel Macron, the editorial staff and the unions are taking head on the defense of their working conditions and their interests. Tuesday, June 28, a national call for a strike was launched by the public audiovisual inter-union (CGT, CFDT, CFTC, FO, SNJ, SUD and UNSA). A day that marked the rebound of a long-term fight for the future of the public group.