This is another hard blow for Marianne. After the cessation of discussions on the takeover with the conservative billionaire Pierre-Edouard Stérin, rejected by the editorial staff after the revelation by Le Monde of connections with the extreme right, the magazine announced today the end of negotiations with the entrepreneur Jean-Martial Lefranc. At issue: a lack of guarantees on editorial independence, according to part of the editorial staff.
Its owner, CMI France, “takes note that discussions with Mr. Lefranc have ended”” and deplores “an unprecedented situation (which) places the magazine in an uncertain situation”writes the group of Czech magnate Daniel Kretinsky (Elle, Télé 7 jours…) in a press release sent to AFP, saying however “determined to find a future for the title”on sale since the end of April.
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Of the “exclusive negotiations” were open with Jean-Martial Lefranc, a 62-year-old entrepreneur with a career in video games and owner of the youth press group Fleurus since 2009. Mr. Lefranc offered 8.5 million euros, with CMI France saying it was willing to take responsible for part of the recovery costs, for 3 million euros.
The standoff with the journalists
These discussions quickly came to an end when the entrepreneur announced that he had “firm intention” to intervene in the editorial line of the newspaper and to “personally remedy” to articles which do not meet, in his opinion, the “requirements of journalistic ethics”. The editorial team then said to itself “ready to use all means to obtain satisfaction, including strike”. A reaction which did not please this potential buyer, judging that the “ radicality » of the Society of Editors Marianne (SRM) compromised the redemption of the title.
“The attitude expressed by a majority of the editorial staff does not allow (…) to envisage a calm and constructive recovery of Marianne to date”added this source in a brief press release.
The group, owner of Marianne since 2018, “will soon indicate the main directions which could then be adopted ”, according to the press release.
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In 2023, with 129,000 copies sold, Marianne saw its circulation drop by 1.3% compared to 2022, behind its competitors Le Point (291,000, -1.5%), L'Obs (190,000, -7%) and L'Express (144,000, -5%), according to the Alliance for Press and Media Figures.
The weekly lost 3 million euros in 2023, for 12 million euros in turnover. He defends an editorial line that is sovereignist, pro-secular, anti-liberal in economics and critical of elites. It was this tone that prompted Daniel Kretinsky, a liberal in economics and in favor of European construction, to part ways with the magazine.
(With AFP)
