RSF recognised as “interested party” in French media takeover probe, appeals for witnesses
After being recognised as an “interested party” in the European Commission’s investigation into a French media group’s possibly premature takeover of another French media group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on journalists and other employees of these media groups to get in touch if they have information that could help the investigation.
By recognising RSF as an “interested party” in a letter on 28 September, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition is allowing the media freedom NGO to play a formal role in its investigation into signs that Vivendi, a media and telecommunication conglomerate owned by French billionaire Vincent Bolloré, has taken premature control of the Lagardère media group.
Ever since the Commission announced the investigation on 25 July, RSF has been providing information informally while seeking formal recognition of its role. The investigation is examining evidence that, in violation of the Commission’s conditions for approving the takeover, Vivendi demonstrated a deliberate desire to quickly transform the editorial line of the media outlets concerned including JDD, Paris Match and Europe 1. This would constitute a fundamental attack on editorial independence.
“After already providing the investigation with information in an informal capacity, RSF will now, thanks to this ‘interested party’ status, be able to contribute formally to the Commission's ongoing attempts to determine whether Vincent Bolloré, at the head of the Vivendi group, has been taking control of the Lagardère group's media in a premature manner. We call on all people who could provide us with new information, especially current or former employees of Vivendi or Lagardère, to contact us.”
Vivendi’s acquisition of Lagardère was approved on 9 June subject to certain conditions that Bolloré’s media conglomerate was supposed to satisfy before taking control of Lagardère’s media. Failure to wait is called “gun jumping” by competition regulators – an offence that could result in a fine of up to 10% of the global turnover of the companies involved.
Gun jumping would be established in this case if the European Commission decides that Lagardère’s media are already being controlled in practice by Bolloré, an oligarchic media owner notorious for his ruthless methods and for riding roughshod over editorial independence.
Bolloré began taking control a long time ago, according to the evidence gathered by RSF. Bolloré allies have been appointed to key positions in the media being acquired. The two media groups are already cooperating closely. The editorial line of media being acquired has changed radically. And the staff of CNews, a 24-hour TV news channel owned by Bolloré, have been moved into Lagardère-owned premises.
RSF intends to help the Commission gather all the necessary evidence of premature control and, to this end, reiterates its call for persons able to provide information to get in touch.
