The first journalists' union denounces the "repression" at Canal +

The national union of journalists (SNJ) denounced Wednesday the "repression" at work according to him at Canal +, where three freelancers were dismissed for having provided their support to the comedian Sébastien Thoen, according to the site

.

Tuesday, the online media affirmed that three freelance journalists from the sports writing of Canal + "were fired on Monday" for having signed a text of support for Sébastien Thoen.

He himself was fired for a parody targeting CNews, the group's news channel, whose parent company Vivendi is controlled by billionaire Vincent Bolloré.

Contacted by AFP, the management of Canal + declined to comment.

Signed by 150 employees, the incriminated support text, published by the Society of Journalists of the encrypted channel, claimed an attachment to "freedom of expression, caricature or parody".

On Christmas Eve, the commentator Stéphane Guy was also disembarked, after 23 years of house, for having paid tribute to the antenna to the comedian.

"A shame for the French audiovisual industry" 

For the SNJ, "these sanctions are clearly aimed at bringing journalists to their feet, at a time when our profession is also undergoing a deep economic crisis and a wave of unprecedented social attacks".

"This repression initiated by the leaders of the Canal + group and their main shareholder is a disgrace for the French audiovisual industry", adds the first organization of the profession. 

The union also expresses "its concern for other editorial staff, like that of Europe 1 (owned by Lagardère,

), which could soon come under the control of Vincent Bolloré".

In this context, "the public authorities" must "reaffirm (in speeches but also in actions) that (...) freedom of expression and the independence of editorial staff must be guaranteed", believes the union.