This woman from Nîmes has kept her accent and vitality upon arriving in a region she already knew a little from a previous stint. Nice Premium met with a radio woman on the right frequency modulation.
Nice Premium: Laure DEBEAULIEU, you are the new Editor-in-Chief of France Bleu Azur. Could you introduce yourself to the readers of NP?
Laure Debeaulieu: I have been the Editor-in-Chief at France Bleu Azur since February 26th. Before that, I was a journalist at France Bleu Hérault in Montpellier for 15 years. I’m married and the mother of three children.
Originally from Nîmes, I studied in Paris and worked at several private radio stations for a few months before doing freelance gigs for Radio France! This was in the early 1990s… I then went on to temporary contracts at various local Radio France stations for two and a half years. It was a sort of editorial tour around France… I eventually joined the Montpellier newsroom.
NP: What made you decide to try the Nice experience?
LD: Last year, I was offered to hold the interim Editor-in-Chief position in Nice for two months… which I did in June and July 2006.
I discovered the role, the team, and the department. I unexpectedly returned when the position became available last December. Arriving in the middle of the electoral period, I didn’t notice the time pass! I had to quickly “learn” the codes, the habits, the personalities, who does what and how, with the constant fear of making mistakes. But ultimately, up to now, everything has gone well.
NP: How did you imagine Nice, and how do you perceive it today?
LD: There are many clichés about the Côte d’Azur and Nice. And very often, these clichés do not match reality… I had the image of a very beautiful city, which is true, and a unique atmosphere tied to the ever-present sea, which is also true… But what I discovered is a very strong identity and a city with character. And I find that quite pleasing.
NP: What has struck you the most since your arrival?
LD: Undoubtedly the color of the sea, both turquoise and navy blue… That’s for the image… Then, obviously, the mix of populations, the impressive influx of tourists, and the traffic difficulties.
Professionally, I was pleasantly surprised by the volume of news. I come from a region that is not lacking in news, far from it, but it’s not comparable. Here, news moves faster, and very often a new reporting day starts at 4 PM. It’s very demanding but necessarily very exciting.
NP: What are Laure Debeaulieu’s projects at FBA?
LD: I am very determined, together with the supportive team at France Bleu Azur, to further develop our public service mission. To win over listeners with lively, strong, intense local news that speaks to everyone. That’s the idea. To love, be passionate about football as well as rugby, to share and experience the mountains as much as the sea, to give a voice to the actors of the coast and the highlands. In short, to stick to all these contrasts that make the Alpes-Maritimes charming.
NP: What are Laure’s favorite places? And those of the Editor-in-Chief?
LD: At the moment, I don’t know the area well enough to choose one place over another.
NP: Finally, what will be the upcoming novelties on FBA?
LD: For the start of the school year, the priority will be live programs and news segments. New features as well, notably the editorial by the newsroom every morning. We will also cover the everyday environment, with everything happening here to protect the planet. We will, of course, be supporting OGC Nice for a new season with match retransmissions. We will also be present alongside Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur. More for you to discover from September 3rd.
