Paris (AFP)
The editorial line of Europe 1 "does not change", assures the Figaro on Thursday Constance Benqué, president of Lagardère News, even if the radio wants to continue to develop "synergies" with the Canal + group, with which it shares the same main shareholder , Vincent Bolloré.
"Europe 1 is the radio of all opinions", it "is and will remain a generalist radio station", assures the president of Lagardère News in the daily Thursday, for whom "Europe 1 has been unfairly caricatured by some as an opinion radio ".
"The information is treated with honor and rigor then comes the commentary, as in any major media", she insists, specifying that the ambition of the Lagardère group is to "restore Europe 1 to its status as a generalist resort. 'influence by developing synergies with the Canal + group ".
These "synergies" will continue "with the upcoming electoral campaign," indicates Constance Benqué, who is also counting on "an increase in the range of information" on this occasion.
The arrival of the Vivendi group, owned by Vincent Bolloré, as the majority shareholder of the Lagardère group, signaled the merger of the radio with CNews, the Canal + group's news channel.
The journalist of Europe 1, Laurent Cabrol, in September 2017 in Paris JACQUES DEMARTHON AFP / Archives
Faced with the fears of a large part of the editorial staff of a change of editorial line after this merger, Europe 1 had its first major strike in June.
Since then, in addition to the planned elimination of around forty positions, there are many contenders at the start, as are the evictions.
Many historical figures of radio have left, including presenter Laurent Cabrol, political columnist Michaël Darmon, comedian Nicolas Canteloup, Patrick Cohen, Anne Roumanoff, Matthieu Belliard, Julie Leclerc and Wendy Bouchard ...
After the charrette of voluntary departures and evictions in recent months, the Europe 1 grid has been radically changed and is open to personalities from the Bolloré universe such as Laurie Cholewa (Canal +) or William Leymergie (C8).
comedian Nicolas Canteloup in the studios of Europe 1 in December 2018 in Paris Thomas SAMSON AFP / Archives
On the news side, Dimitri Pavlenko, columnist with polemicist Eric Zemmour on CNews, took the reins of the morning.
"The editorial staff is in the process of being reinforced by the recruitment or the tenure of seventeen people, twenty-five at the level of the radio (...) Other recruitments are in progress", affirms the leader of Lagardère.
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