Jeremy Filosa breaks his silence. And his message leaves a bitter taste.
Behind the carefully crafted apologies and calibrated remarks, a disturbing truth looms: Jeremy Filosa does not speak freely.
This press release, visibly supervised by the management of 98.5 FM, looks more like an imposed statement than an authentic statement from a seasoned journalist.
Here is his message:
Hello everyone, and more specifically to all the listeners of 98.5 FM. As you have noticed, I have been missing on air for a few months now.
The reason is simple, last October 17, while I was on the air, I spoke about a subject that was clearly outside my field of expertise.
I recognize today that my statement had not been subject to real verification. I understand that, in doing so, I may have misled listeners, which was not my goal at all.
In recent weeks, I have had the chance to review the ethical obligations specific to journalistic work.
Among these, when a journalist expresses an opinion, whether it is in his field of expertise or not, the accuracy of the facts is fundamental to his work, and essential to public trust.
I would like to take the time to apologize to our audience and to my colleagues and bosses, who have been placed in an unpleasant situation.
For 25 years, I have taken my profession to heart, and I have always been keen to do professional work. Normally I should start microphone again by the end of January, a job that I love and that I intend to continue doing for several years.
I can't wait to start talking to you about sports again. This will be done when we return from vacation in January. With that, I would like to wish you all a happy holiday season, and see you soon.
From the first words, we feel that Jeremy Filosa does not address his listeners with the same passion and the same energy that have characterized him for 25 years.
His apology seems forced, almost recited, as if dictated by a superior.
“I spoke about a subject that was clearly outside my field of expertise”: A statement that does not correspond to the spirit of a journalist like Filosa, known for his curiosity and intellectual courage.
Since when must a journalist remain confined to his field of expertise to express an opinion?
“My statement had not been the subject of a real verification”: A disturbing sentence, which implies a serious mistake, while the debate around the 1969 moon landing remains, for many, a simple personal opinion , not deliberate misinformation.
This statement, far from restoring public trust, instead reinforces the idea that Filosa was forced to publicly humiliate himself to save his place within a company that has clearly abandoned him.
The Jeremy Filosa situation highlights a much deeper problem at 98.5 FM. Here is a journalist with a 25-year career, who has dedicated his life to informing and entertaining listeners, but who today finds himself silenced and forced to justify himself for a simple opinion.
He is required to undergo ethics training, as if he were an inexperienced trainee, even though his background speaks for him.
He was kept off the airwaves for months, a treatment that resembled disguised disciplinary leave.
Worse still, his return is announced for January, but under conditions which remain unclear, leaving doubt about the future of his career.
98.5 FM, by this gesture, does not protect journalistic ethics, but breaks a man by forcing him to apologize for a minor misstep.
Where is the justice in all this?
The silence imposed on Jeremy Filosa is an obvious strategy to humiliate him and make him lose his credibility. For what ?
Because Cogeco does not want to assume the costs of a formal dismissal. Remember that Filosa is a union employee with 19 years of seniority, and a layoff would earn him enormous compensation.
By forcing him to publicly apologize and keeping him off the air, Cogeco is likely hoping that Filosa will eventually resign on his own.
A cruel and inhumane strategy, particularly as the holidays approach, for a father who has no other choice but to submit to these humiliations to keep his job.
This case goes well beyond Jeremy Filosa. It highlights a worrying trend in traditional media: the suppression of freedom of expression in favor of conformism imposed by leaders more concerned with their image than with journalistic integrity.
Why must Filosa publicly apologize for a personal opinion, while other columnists, much less rigorous, continue to express their ideas without fear of reprisal?
Why does the management of 98.5 FM accept that ego conflicts, like those of Patrick Lagacé or Philippe Cantin who pull the strings at Cogeco, dominate the work environment, but persist on a respected journalist for a minor mistake?
If Quebecor wants to position itself as a serious alternative to traditional media in decline, it is time for Pierre Karl Péladeau to act.
Recruiting Jeremy Filosa would not only be a strategic move, but also a clear statement: at Quebecor, freedom of expression is still a fundamental value.
Péladeau could offer Filosa a platform where he can express himself without fear of reprisals from a management more concerned to please than to protect its employees.
By welcoming Filosa, Quebecor would also send a message to listeners: your voices matter, and we are here to listen to them.
The message published by Jeremy Filosa is not that of a free man. It is that of a journalist forced to self-flagellate to preserve what remains of his career.
But the public is not naive. Listeners know how to recognize authentic talent, and they will not remain silent in the face of such blatant injustice.
Jeremy Filosa shouldn't have to apologize for expressing an opinion. What he deserves is a platform where he can continue to ask the tough questions, stimulate public debate and inform with passion.
If 98.5 FM isn't ready to give him that, then maybe it's time for Filosa to find a place that will.
Freedom of expression and respect for journalists are not luxuries.
They are essential to democracy and the credibility of the media. And right now, those values are disappearing at 98.5 FM.
