FRANCE 24 management and the FRANCE 24 editorial committee (SDJ) have denounced the pressure FRANCE 24 journalists Nina Masson and Yong Chim faced after asking a question about the anti-Bolloré letter as a “serious violation of press freedom”.

Published on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival and signed by some 600 industry professionals, the open letter expressed alarm over rightwing French billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s growing control over French cinema through the UGC theatre chain and the Canal+ Group, where he is the majority shareholder.

The petition, which deplored the tightening “grip of the far right” on French cinema, prompted a quick response. Maxime Saada, president of the Canal+ Group – France’s biggest source of film financing – announced that the network would no longer work with the signatories. 

The latest incident occurred as Masson and Chim took part in an interview organised to promote Antonin Baudry’s feature film “La Bataille de Gaulle”. 

Read moreFrench cinema faces reckoning as media mogul Bolloré blacklists stars for daring to challenge him

As one of the actors in the movie answered questions from members of the press, FRANCE 24 journalist Nina Masson asked them about the open letter.

Visibly uncomfortable, the actor dodged the question. After the conversation drew to a close, their press officer prevented the journalists from leaving and demanded they turn over a recording of the interview.

“What happened at the end of the interview is of unprecedented gravity. The actor’s press officer blocked our team in the room, threatening them and demanding the immediate return of the memory card containing the recording of the interview,” FRANCE 24’s SDJ said in a statement.

This press officer was “very vindictive and angry, not at all professional”, Masson said, adding that she firmly refused to hand over the memory card.

Methods used in ‘authoritarian regimes’

Faced with our team’s refusal to yield to these illegitimate demands – notably because they violated journalistic ethics – a second press officer became involved. Under pressure, Masson and Chim were forced to sign “a written commitment not to broadcast the disputed segment”.

“Methods like this, where my equipment is snatched from me and I’m asked to hand over a memory card – that’s something that has happened to me in authoritarian regimes,” said Julie Dungelhoeff, president of FRANCE 24’s SDJ and a veteran correspondent, speaking on France Culture on Friday.

Climate of fear

FRANCE 24’s management condemned in the strongest possible terms the pressure exerted on its journalists, which it describes as archaic practices that constitute an unacceptable violation of press freedom.

“I find these methods appalling. It requires an immediate apology. Our team was mistreated while doing their jobs. This cannot set a precedent. We strongly condemn the acts of intimidation targeting our teams,” stated Vanessa Burggraf, editor-in-chief of FRANCE 24.

Masson said the incident speaks volumes about the “fear” that has permeated the French film industry since Saada spoke of essentially blacklisting actors.

Read moreFrench film giant Canal+ to blacklist hundreds over petition against right-wing owner

“Since then, I’ve received dozens of messages on social media from culture journalists who are experiencing the same thing,” Masson said. “While it has not always gone to this extreme, they are being pressured not to ask certain questions. We’re fed up with working under these conditions.”

Shocked by this violent attempt at intimidation, our two journalists, along with FRANCE 24 management, are now demanding an apology from the two press officers.

The SDJ has offered its “unreserved support” to Masson and Chim, strongly condemning “the acts of intimidation and censorship” directed at them.

“Press freedom is non-negotiable,” it said.