Paris (AFP)

The Franco-Israeli journalist Dov Alfon, former correspondent for the daily Haaretz in Paris, becomes the editorial director of Liberation, replacing Laurent Joffrin, the newspaper announces.

Dov Alfon, 59, had been approached for this post since Laurent Joffrin left mid-July to enter politics.

He had also joined Libé in June as head of digital strategy.

His appointment was approved Wednesday by a large majority (90%) of Liberation journalists, according to a statement.

At the same time, he becomes director of publication and co-manager of the newspaper.

Within the left-wing Israeli daily, Dov Alfon notably directed and renovated the weekend supplement before leading the title from 2008 to 2011, where he was responsible for boosting digital subscriptions.

Award-winning novelist and digital specialist Dov Alfon has also been a consultant for television series.

"I am happy and proud of this extraordinary confidence which honors me. Liberation is a strong, unique title, with values ​​of independence and humanism to which I am deeply attached", reacted the new leader, quoted in a statement.

"Constitution of the Endowment Fund which guarantees the independence of the newspaper, purchase of the Arc Publishing platform from the Washington Post which provides daily life with a powerful digital tool, election of Dov to the editorial board: the planets are in the process of align itself so that Liberation reaches the audience of its notoriety, ”commented Denis Olivennes, the director general.

The newspaper was transferred earlier this month by its former owner Altice to an endowment fund, a structure supposed to guarantee the independence of the title but which has raised questions from employees since the beginning.

They are demanding in particular that this fund be better endowed and that the editorial staff be able to participate in governance, requests supported last week in a support forum published in Le Monde and signed by around a hundred personalities from the political, intellectual, academic and social worlds. artistic.

© 2020 AFP