“The office is reviewing Franck Viano’s application for membership to the Press Club as a journalist. Several members of the office know the candidate. They acknowledge his certain dynamism and huge determination. The content of the website he directs reflects this dynamism but also a blending of genres (information, editorial advertising) which calls into question the goals pursued by Franck Viano. By 6 votes against and 2 abstentions, the office rejects his application.” These are the terms in which the refusal was communicated, also motivated by the fact that no one at Nice Premium possesses a Press Card.
Indeed, no editor at Nice Premium holds the precious tricolor pass that would open doors which are already widely open to us without it. And while some might apply for it if they meet the criteria which certainly need dusting off, I have deliberately chosen not to apply even though my status as Director of Publication at Nice Premium would allow me to obtain it quite easily.
Nice Premium will soon celebrate its 2-year anniversary and, apart from the Cannes Film Festival, we have never been asked for a press card to do our work. Yesterday, we were hunting for invitations and press conferences, today we receive regular reminders for us to cover events.
“Blending of genres.” A mix of ideas, yes! Is Nice Premium the only media to do advertorials? Especially since our boosts are most often free and without any commercial ulterior motive.
“The goals pursued by Franck Viano?” To inform freely, without any constraints of time, budget, propriety, feudal ties, or affiliations… In short, to share our way of seeing, living, observing, and feeling the city in which we live, work, invest, and voluntarily give a large part of our time to “keep running” the only interactive media in the region (apart from that of OGC Nice, for which I congratulate Alex and Flo).
After the refusal of the sports journalists to accredit us at Stade du Ray (thanks to the club for overcoming this decision) to follow the matches of OGC Nice, it is thus a new snub that our team is ultimately very proud to receive from a profession that would do well to open up a bit more towards “certain dynamism and enormous will.” Two awards in one year, we’re going to open a trophy gallery at this rate!
Dynamism and will are therefore not enough to enter the magical world of local press, and this editorial is not meant to vomit a harsh and sometimes even bitter criticism of an absolute rejection but rather a cold analysis of a decision digested not without difficulty.
“We choose our friends but rarely our family…” We’re going to continue with friends, go for it!
