"Against the audiovisual dictatorship": Ici Azur and France 3 Côte d'Azur on unlimited strike against Rachida Dati's proposed merger of public audiovisual services

Defend public broadcasting. The unions of Radio France and France Télévisions oppose the proposed holding company , bringing together Radio France, France Télévisions, and the INA, under the name France Médias. Culture Minister Rachida Dati is presenting it to the National Assembly on June 30 and July 1. Since last Thursday, union members have declared an unlimited strike (with the possibility of striking without notice), and this Monday, around thirty employees gathered at Place Masséna in Nice.

"Risk to independence"

Their fear: a sort of return to ORTF (which until 1975 brought together public television and radio, heavily dependent on the government). "We defend pluralism. The more we centralize, the greater the risk to independence. All this to save money," fears Coralie Becq, a journalist at France 3 Côte d'Azur and a member of the National Union of Journalists. "France would become an audiovisual dictatorship. In 20 years in the profession, I've never experienced any pressure regarding the treatment of my stories. That's an opportunity that could soon be over," worries Sébastien Germain, a journalist at Ici Azur and a member of the CGT union.

The employees were joined by politicians and passers-by, including listeners and viewers.

No local programs

This Monday morning, there was no morning show on Ici Azur and no local edition or news on France 3 Côte d'Azur. This Tuesday, there will again be no morning show on local radio. 67% of Radio France journalists were on strike. Along with France 3, they plan to mobilize until the project is withdrawn.