Radio's return to school disrupted: new voices from Radio France on strike

On the latter, the morning show presented by Nicolas Demorand was largely interspersed with musical segments. Benjamin Duhamel, a star recruit after Léa Salamé's departure for France 2's 8 p.m. news, however, conducted the interview with Belgian novelist Amélie Nothomb, before the humorous column by Bertrand Chameroy, another new voice.

Mr. Demorand explained that this call for an unlimited strike by the CFDT, CGT, FO, SNJ, SUD and UNSA unions had been launched "against the editorial strategy and against the reforms carried out by the management" of Radio France.

These include the shutdown of Mouv' radio on FM, editorial changes within Ici, and the discontinuation of investigative and reporting programs.

Programming was also disrupted on France Culture, while the franceinfo morning show was able to continue as normal.

On Ici, "we are not able to broadcast all the programs," read the website of the former France Bleu.

"Social Indian Summer"

At the general staff meeting on Monday, union representatives hailed the "success" of their mobilization, while management had not yet provided figures.

After a first round on Friday, new discussions are planned for Monday afternoon.

However, Lionel Thompson (CGT) warned that this is not the time to "call off the strike," welcoming the "opening of the social Indian summer." "We will have to hold on," added Delphine Merlaud (Sud).

A first strike, which was widely followed, took place from June 26 to 29.

It was immediately followed by a second one, but for a different reason. It was a protest against the proposed reform of public broadcasting put forward by the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati. It plans to create a holding company, France Médias, which would oversee France Télévisions, Radio France, and the INA (National Audiovisual Institute).

Lapix arrives on RTL

After a bumpy parliamentary journey, this text should return to the National Assembly in the autumn.

According to the latest audience measurements from Médiamétrie, Radio France recorded a record 2024-2025 season on several stations and France Inter increased its lead as the country's leading radio station.

Elsewhere, the radio season went off without a hitch.

Among the new headliners, journalist Pascale de la Tour du Pin, formerly of the C8 television channel, kicked off the program at 5:00 a.m. on RMC alongside Matthieu Belliard. This "pre-morning" program is also broadcast on the RMC Story channel.

For his part, Marc-Olivier Fogiel, who directed the BFMTV channel for five years, made his return behind a microphone, that of RTL, for an interview on Thomas Sotto's morning show.

France's second-largest radio station has significantly revamped its schedule and recruited former France 2 8pm news star Anne-Sophie Lapix, who replaces Yves Calvi on the 7pm news. The journalist will also conduct interviews on Sundays on M6, part of the same broadcasting group.

"I've never done radio before, it's going to be exciting, fun, invigorating," she assured AFP.

On Europe 1, journalist Christine Kelly, a figure of CNews, took to the airwaves at 11:30 a.m. in a slot previously occupied by Pascal Praud, who switched to the 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. slot previously hosted by Cyril Hanouna.

The latter left the media of billionaire Vincent Bolloré and will make a double comeback on September 1, on television on W9 and on Fun Radio.