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Everybody likes a good cloak and dagger story particularly when it involves a reporter and a source, usually foreign. Wonderful novels and films have used this line, typically with just enough suspicion to attract attention. Another one has popped up with all the making of a good script.
French TV news channel BFMTV has suspended a reporter after a recent internal investigation uncovered the possibility of journalistic misbehavior. News/gossip portal Politico, known for an breathless quest for political scandal, opened the floodgates (February 2), followed by AFP with its usual fact-checking. French media watchers are standing by. (See more about media in France here)
Allegations have been leveled on BFMTV late night news anchor Rachid M’Barki for running with a story without proper editorial clearance. Reporting on an economic forum between Spanish and Moroccan officials last June, he described diplomatic positions as “warming,” considered a misstatement. To Politico, he said he had heard this from “informants.” Diplomatic relations among Spain, Morocco, France and Algeria over territories of the Moroccan Sahara have been tense for years. To questions, M M’Barki said: “Maybe I was fooled.” (See more about journalism here)
The possibility of foreign meddling in news output, now widely speculated but not explicitly, put BFMTV owner Altice Media on edge. "We cannot tolerate any suspicions about the work of BFM and its 300 journalists,” said a company statement, quoted by Le Figaro (February 2). “We will therefore take all legal, judicial, individual and organizational measures according to the conclusions of this investigation.” An internal investigation is continuing. (See more about TV news here)
Nearly all French media watchers covering this development have urged caution. “Let's be clear: it is currently difficult to establish the precise facts,” wrote online news portal Pure Medias (February 2). “The nature and content of the broadcast content are not yet known. Foreign state interference is a possibility. This hypothesis, for the time being, is obviously not confirmed.”
Four national journalist trade unions have agreed to withdraw from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Complaints, they said, have been ignored. Those range from claimed financial improprieties to the unwillingness of IFJ to separate itself from the Russian Union of Journalists of Russia (UJR). The four are Scandinavian: Norwegian Journalist Association (NJ), Union of Journalists in Finland (UJF), Union of Icelandic Journalists (BI) and Danish Union of Journalists (DJ). The four met this week with IFJ deputy general secretary Jeremy Dear.
Top on the list of complaints is “complacency” over the membership of the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ). The aggrieved unions noted RUJ establishing branch unions last year in the four regions of Ukraine annexed by Russian Federation forces giving assistance to the propaganda efforts of Russian state media organizations. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemned that action. In a statement (October 27), EFJ President Maja Sever said the RUJ branches looked "like a provocation we could have done without.” The four Scandinavian unions said they intend to remain members of EFJ. (See more about journalist unions here)
“We believe there is an absence of democratic processes in the IFJ, and it peaked when the Russian federation established itself in occupied areas in Ukraine,” said NJ executive director Dag Idar Tryggestad, quoted by Journalisten NO (January 31). “IFJ said the needed time, but we believe the fact was obvious and that it should have been clearly reacted to. They also moved the (IFJ World) Congress to Oman, a country without freedom of press or expression. The political leadership in the IFJ has expired, and does not represent our interests and those of our members. Quoted by Reuters (January 31), he added: “We believe this (resignation) is the only thing that can save IFJ. Changes must be forced”
The Swedish Union of Journalists is, for now, on the sidelines. “We have ongoing aid projects with special reporting via IFJ, which the other journalist unions in the Nordics do not have,” said president Ulrika Hyllert. “We must investigate the consequences of leaving the IFJ before we make a decision, but we share the criticism of the other Nordic journalists' associations against the IFJ. Among other things, we have demanded that the IFJ exclude the Russian Union of Journalists.”
In response, Mr. Dear called unions’ allegations “false, defamatory and damaging.” The IFJ executive committee has “triggered a formal process for suspending and expelling the Russian Union of Journalists.” By statute, members can exit the IFJ with six months notice.
UPDATE: Those angry Scandinavian journalist unions that exited the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) (January 31) in protest secured a certain concession. The IFJ “suspended” the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) (February 22) for establishing local unions in annexed areas of Ukraine to support Russian propaganda efforts. At the “extraordinary” board meeting, 19 members voted for the suspension with one opposing.
“We think that it is a very good decision, but that it comes embarrassingly late,” said Norwegian Journalist Association (NJ) spokesperson Eva Stabell to Journalisten NO (February 22). “It should have been taken almost a year ago. That was the final straw.”
She also lowered the boom on the IFJ board. “Those who work at IFJ do a great job for journalists worldwide, but the board is not good. The management are some old men who won't give up. We hope that they will need a few more renewals over the next few months.” Ms Stabell indicated NJ could review its exit from IFJ in six months.
"The decision is purely political, they went along with the ultimatum of the Nordic trade unions, unfortunately," said RUJ chairperson Vladimir Solovyov to Russian news agency TASS, quoted by Reuters (February 22). The RUJ can appeal the decision at the IFJ World Congress in 2026. Mr. Solovyov indicated RUJ has “big plans” for creating an alternative to the IFJ.
Clear as a bell is the retreat from bigness. The media world is just the latest to take the bruising. Growth through acquisition became the preferred corporate strategy decades ago, after all it is quicker and, often, more predictable - not to forget less expensive - than organic growth. The rise of mammoth global digital media brands put boards of directors on edge, not to forget the creeping distrust of politicians. Buying the road to corporate joy seemed unassailable.
The Dutch Consumer and Markets Authority (ACM) considerably dimmed the lights on the proposed merger of RTL Nederland and Talpa Networks. “The takeover will create too powerful a party in the commercial media landscape. That (would lead) to price increases for advertisers and for telecom providers who pass (them on to consumers),” said the ACM statement, quoted by Villamedia (January 30). RTL Nederland, the Dutch subsidiary of RTL Group, itself a subsidiary of Bertelsmann, and Talpa Networks, principally owned by John de Mol, had entered into negotiations with the ACM over deal details. The ACM indicated it is giving those talks a break, maybe forever. As originally proposed, the merger would create a big, though largely traditional media house. (See more about media in the Netherlands here)
As much as anything, the ACM decision further tamps down the aspirations Bertelsmann (and RTL Group) chief executive Thomas Rabe articulated 18 months ago. A proposed merger of RTL Group subsidiary M6 Group and TF1 Group was effectively quashed by French competition regulator Agcom, which demanded spin-offs of the largest TV channels, M6 and TF1, rejected by both owners. The consequence within the French media sector has been blunt; both companies strongly suggesting withdrawal from the market. Elsewhere, the proposed acquisition by publisher Penguin Random House, principally owned by Bertelsmann, of publisher Simon & Schuster met fatal resistance from the US Justice Department. In Germany, the merger of RTL and publisher Gruner+Jahr is similarly in trouble. (See more about mergers and acquisitions here)
The strategy of these M&A deals may well have rocked Bertelsmann and Herr Rabe; “failed crackingly,” said a media commentator in German media and advertising portal Meedia (January 30), who “doubted” Herr Rabe’s longevity. “The vision… of creating a counterpoint to the all-powering US tech industry by merging with competitors in the most important divisions for Bertelsmann has failed. The big platforms can continue to expand their positions in the digital advertising business without hindrance.”
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