[Media-watch] France 2

[John Meed]

Dear Mediawatch

Remarkable events have been taking place with the news team of the French
national TV channel France 2.

On February 3 the 8pm news had announced that the Gaulist politician Alain
Juppe was retiring from political life following his conviction for
irregularities in party funding. This reporting proved to be incorrect -
Juppe continues to be active in French politics, even if his presidential
ambitions appear to be fatally damaged. The following day the head of news,
Olivier Mazerolle, said that they 'had not really committed an error' and he
did not fully admit the error until the following Saturday.

On Feb 10 the journalists working for France 2 held a secret no confidence
vote in Mazerolle and the 8pm news team. 67.4% voted that they did not have
confidence in Mazerolle, while 69.4% voted that they did not have confidence
in the 8pm news team.

Today Le Monde reports that Mazerolle has resigned and that the presenter of
the 8pm news programme has been suspended for 15 days.

John Meed