Belgium - Carte blanche Once is not custom, it will now copy / paste, came directly from
Acrimed ...
We publish below, preceded by a presentation prepared by its signatories, an "open forum" refused by the two leading dailies Belgian Francophone Le Soir and La Libre Belgique . ( Acrimed ) ***
Following the abrupt dismissal of four journalists, including the editor, the main French-language Belgian news weekly, Le Vif- The Express (group Roularta ), a "carte blanche" (text below) was drafted by the Association of Professional Journalists and university teachers responsible for leading journalism schools in Brussels and Wallonia.
The publication of this text was rejected by the two newspapers baseline speaking Belgium, Le Soir and La Libre Belgique. The authors of this paper are also dismayed by the refusal by the facts that generated the text.
around this refusal to even engage in debate, we undertook to circulate the text by all means available outside of the media self-censorship which only demonstrates the absurdity of the very disturbing findings outlined in the text.
We invite you to disseminate widely the text. His viral circulation demonstrate the futility of efforts of those who think it is still possible to stifle the flow of ideas that bother those who, moreover, arise in a society advocates of dialogue and debate .
*** The white card written by the Association of Professional Journalists and academics about the conflict in Vif and denied by Le Soir and La Libre Belgique .
A journalism created not
The abrupt dismissal without cause served, Thursday, Jan. 22, four journalists of the weekly experienced Le Vif / L'Express is not a painful episode in a large company, as it unfortunately runs every day throughout the country. The sidelining of collaborating with up to twenty years of seniority within the magazine, and who shaped the values as well as the reputation, in this case is a treatment whose intentions are obvious concern for the editorial freedom of Vif in particular and journalism in general .
The Director of Vif / L'Express , who had already reported before Trends / Tendances by a propensity to distribute C4, and that is, Lively , 6 dismissals, 2 and 2 departures imposed displacements, stated by himself: no economic reason led him to fire the editor and three editors of one specialized in domestic politics, the other sciences, the third culture. Citing deteriorated relationship between the editorial and the editor, management - that has failed to solve these problems - chose the most radical way to stop it. The pretext is not only light but also it does not concern all the journalists involved.
Waltz redundancies started at Vif here almost three years, in fact reflects a constant obsession: to not writing the first newsmagazine General French Community, which was precisely based on its credibility completely independent of analysis and judgments, both in respect of its own shareholders - the Flemish group Roularta - vis-à-vis the various authorities, political as economic, of Belgian society.
For over two decades, Le Vif / L'Express was able to defend journalism demanding, concerned first with the relevance and usefulness to its readers, the subjects he tackled. On behalf of this ethic, he could sometimes find it necessary to upset an advertiser, or hitting a minister to devote a cover to an issue under Seller. All this is no longer went home from the moment when, worried by a slight decline in sales, senior management has been convinced of Roularta need to replace experienced journalists, cut off heads in excess, and make docility of the economic imperatives of the enterprise a creed acceptable.
The editor of Vif not only to dispossess and the writing of his ability to think his priorities and to define its fields of action. In Belgium and abroad, too many entrepreneurs choose to press, sometimes under the pretext of economic hardship, impoverishment of content, downsize, to forgo critical feathers and free spirits, to the closet fiery talent, and to prefer the chiefs and deputy chiefs submitted.
The Vif is not the only one, but it is the only weekly general information widely disseminated in the French Community . Those who exhaust the internal focus of today in this regard responsibility to the wider public opinion.
A concern for the future of its journalists expelled, but also those who remain, plus the stunning face of brutality social convened one evening by an SMS on their mobile phones, four were dismissed been returned to the field very early and strictly forbidden to iron by writing to carry personal effects. Two hours under their supervision have been granted, the following Saturday, for this task. How very serious mistake, regardless of offense, there were four, they therefore guilty to deserve such contempt? Nothing justifies such violence in social relations, which in this case doubles as a real disregard for labor law and contrasts with the image of the peaceful family business to give himself loveth Roularta . The reaction of the League of Journalists Vif - who observed as early as Thursday off work - as unconditional support of the Association of Professional Journalists and unions, say that the limit of acceptability has been crossed.
The financial crisis, falling advertising revenues, diversification of media and technology investments it claims can never justify to us that journalism is reduced to its economic value, that journalists are over the watchdogs of democracy, but only small zealous soldiers charged with selling content formatted for short-term commercial imperatives.
We need experienced editors in sufficient numbers, free and independent. As we need more brainpower, expertise, culture and journalism think tank that supported the spectacular setting of papers popularized in the extreme to please the greatest number. The behavior of certain managers and efficiency plans concocted north and south of the country does not go in that direction. Maintain our media intellectual capacities: respect the journalists!
Martine Simonis, National Secretary of the Association of Professional Journalists
Pascal Durand, Professor at the ULg
Grevisse Benoit, director of the journalism school
of Louvain (UCL) Heinderyckx Francis, Professor at the ULB
Javeau Claude, Professor Emeritus of the ULB
Jean-Jacques Jespers , director of the University School of Journalism Brussels (ULB
)
Hugues Le Paige journalist
Gabriel Ringlet, Professor Emeritus of
UCL Marc Sinnaeve, Chairman of Journalism Department the
IHECS .
