In a sequence of events reminiscent of recent upheavals at the BBC in the UK, Olivier Mazerolle, head of news at the French state TV station France 2, has resigned after an inaccurate report on its flagship television news programme. The resignation followed a no-confidence vote in which two-thirds of staff rebuked him and anchorman David Pujadas, who has been suspended, for failing in their public-service mission.
Pujadas attempted to scoop privately owned TF1 to Alain Juppé’s reaction to his conviction on political corruption charges, saying on the strength of unnamed sources at the start of the 8pm bulletin on France 2 that Mr Juppé was about to announce his withdrawal from public life. A few minutes later, on TF1, Mr Juppé told the nation he was going to stay.
Jean-Jacques Aillagon, France’s minister of culture and communication, urged the broadcaster to take measures to avoid similar mistakes, saying the French “have a right to expect information of quality, information that is reliable”.
At Radio France, the state broadcaster, a majority of journalists continued a third week of pay-related strike action that has blacked out news across the public airwaves. The strike, since 11 February also affecting Radio France International, has centred on claims by public-service radio journalists that they should be paid as much as their colleagues in state television.
The crisis in both sections of the French public broadcasting service comes just as Mr Chirac is attempting to mobilise industry professionals to create a CNN à la française.