Section Agence France-Presse du Syndicat national des journalistes |
SNJ-AFP |
Agence France-Presse Branch of the French National Journalists' Union (SNJ) |
News & Views
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French Regional Bureau Threatened with Closure
At the monthly meeting with journalists’ unions on June 23, AFP management confirmed that it was considering closing down the regional bureau in Besançon, eastern France, and having its local region of Franche-Comté covered by a full-time freelancer operating from Dijon. The AFP branch of the SNJ wishes to bring to the attention of journalists the statement below, issued by SNJ branches in the Franche-Comté region. The SNJ-AFP understands the concern expressed by our colleagues, and calls on management to explain its plans as soon as possible. No to the closure of AFP’s Besançon bureau"Agence France Presse’s Besançon bureau is threatened with closure. The corresponding full-time post may be transferred to the Middle East or Asia, and coverage of the Franche-Comté region handed over to the bureau in Dijon. "If that were to happen, it would mean:
"The SNJ branches of the Franche-Comté bureaus of L’Est Républicain, France Bleu, France 3, Le Pays de Franche-Comté and Le Progrès believe that the closure of AFP’s Besançon bureau would be a serious blow to news pluralism in the region. The visibility of a region which already gets short shrift in the national media would decrease even further." SNJ regional branches from L’Est Républicain, France Bleu, France 3, Le Pays de Franche-Comté and Le Progrès - July 1, 2005 4 July 2005 |