The editorial staff of the Nice-Matin group went on strike yesterday, Thursday, October 9, following the announcement of the departure of its editorial director Denis Carreaux.
Gathered in a video conference on Thursday at midday, the journalists of the Nice-Matin group decided on an immediate strike action. This was a reaction to the announcement, made a few hours earlier, of the departure of Denis Carreaux, the editorial director. He will be replaced by Baptiste Bize, currently the departmental director of La Nouvelle République in Deux-Sèvres.
The announcement, conveyed in the morning by the general management, caused a shockwave in the newsrooms of Nice-Matin, Var-Matin, and Monaco-Matin. For several days, rumors had been circulating regarding the future of Denis Carreaux. His departure confirmed these rumors and rekindled tensions within a group already weakened.
In a statement, the National Union of Journalists (SNJ) reported the words of employees, denouncing “the method and the signal sent in the context of the reorganization.” The editorial staff also expressed their “concern for editorial independence” and “the future of the three titles.”
A tense social context persisting for several years
This new crisis arises while the social climate of the group remains marked by months of tension. The project of a common printing center with La Provence in Vitrolles (Bouches-du-Rhône) raises many questions. For the unions, this project threatens the technical autonomy of the group and local employment.
The working conditions of the journalists have also deteriorated. Departures not being replaced are increasing, and the workload is piling up. Of the 160 journalists in the editorial team, many say they have lost confidence in the management. Several strikes have already taken place this year: two in March and one in September, on the very day of the special edition celebrating the 80th anniversary of Nice-Matin.
The departure of Denis Carreaux carries significant symbolic weight. A longtime journalist, he had taken the helm of Nice-Matin in 2009 and guided the title through decisive times: the cooperative takeover by the employees in 2014, and then the acquisition by NJJ, the holding of Xavier Niel, in 2019.
His leadership was seen by part of the editorial team as a guarantee of stability and balance in an evolving media environment. His replacement by Baptiste Bize, coming from another regional press group, therefore raises concerns about future directions.
According to the management, Mr. Bize “will have the mission to continue the editorial and digital development” of the three newspapers, “in line with the transformation strategy undertaken by the group to strengthen its regional anchorage and digital reach.” Terms that have not reassured the editorial staff, already wary of previous reorganizations.
The question of independence
Beyond the change in management, the question of editorial independence remains at the heart of concerns. Journalists fear a loss of freedom in choosing topics and in the tone of their articles. The history of Nice-Matin is marked by the defense of this independence: in 2014, employees mobilized to avoid a takeover by a large industrial group, preferring a cooperative model.
“We want to be fully respected and listened to,” reiterated the staff representatives, echoing the demands expressed during the previous strike in March.
The employee representatives also reminded the employees that, according to the labor code, they do not have to inform their employer before going on strike. It is up to the management to note the absence on the day of the movement. A way to protect participants in a tense context.
Political reactions and uncertainties
In Nice, Mayor Christian Estrosi (Horizons) praised Denis Carreaux as “a respectful interlocutor of pluralism and a supporter of local economic activity.” Meanwhile, Éric Ciotti (UDR) thanked him “for these years dedicated to informing the people of Nice and the Maralpins with passion and rigor.” Customary tributes that nevertheless reflect the importance of the journalist’s role in local life.
For now, the group’s management has not announced a precise schedule regarding the appointment of Baptiste Bize. The employees are awaiting the report of Thursday’s meeting to decide on the continuation of the movement.
The strike marks a new stage in a latent conflict between the management and the editorial staff. It illustrates the fragility of a regional press group in full mutation, caught between economic constraints, digital demands, and the defense of an editorial identity which remains, for many, the raison d’être of Nice-Matin.
