Marche contre le racisme et l'extrême droite - Paris, 21 juin 2026

 

Barbès, 2pm 

With the mayor of Saint-Denis and Assa Traoré

Marche contre le racisme et l'extrême droite

 

Fighting for the freedom of the press

 

Hello there...

If anyone still  reads this space, know that I have been a little silent as I faced a pretty terrible time. 

It's not easy to remain a journalist in such a context: no means, no support, attacks from billionaires...

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So, I'm in Paris this week, and there is an important strike.

2026 has so far been a dark year for journalism and media workers in France. 

Restructuring plans are multiplying in newspapers, magazines, television, and radio: nearly 600 job cuts have already been announced, and more layoffs are on the horizon. 

That, plus political pressure on public broadcasters to only flag the power's ideas, actions and plans, to discourage investigation, and to insight divisions.

In every media company, many of us are being asked to do more with less, often at the expense of the quality and reliability of information. 

Most media are faced with a growing number of job cuts. Then, there is the threat of AI to certain jobs, but also to the way we work, as tools have already replaced translation, and some editors pressure us to write pitches via Chat GPT, Perplexity or Claude, instead of thinking for ourselves...

We think none of this is no longer bearable. 

Meanwhile, media concentration is accelerating and threatening democracy. 

Without genuine engagement, information risks falling into the hands of billionaires only, many of whom pursue an ultra-capitalistic and reactionary political agenda. Vincent Bolloré is a prime example, but he's not alone!

This pressure affects even public media, like France Television, us at RFI, and Agence France-Presse (AFP), a press company also in danger.

So tomorrow, Thursday 18 June, we'll be starting a march on at 11 a.m., at Place de la Bourse in Paris, at the foot of the AFP building.

Notre consoeur Alice Froussard: Journaliste expulsée d'Irsaël

 

Refus d’entrée en Israël pour Alice Froussard : la SDJ et l’Association des correspondants de RFI condamnent une atteinte inadmissible à la liberté de la presse

La correspondante de Radio France Internationale en Palestine et en Israël, Alice Froussard, s’est vue refuser l'entrée sur le sol israélien à l’aéroport Ben Gourion alors qu’elle retournait à Ramallah avec toutes les autorisations nécessaires. 

Elle a été placée de force par la police israélienne dans un avion pour Paris.

La Société des journalistes de RFI s’en indigne et condamne avec la plus grande fermeté cette atteinte brutale à la liberté de la presse.

La SDJ de RFI apporte son soutien à notre consœur qui, avec rigueur et courage, raconte la vie des Palestiniens depuis six ans. Tous ses reportages n’ont été que le reflet de faits, de témoignages, de récits rapportés avec la plus grande précision. Jamais, comme l'affirme Amichai Chikli, le ministre des Affaires de la Diaspora, Alice Froussard n’a été proche du Hamas.

Nous appelons le gouvernement israélien à revenir sur cette décision particulièrement préoccupante pour la liberté des journalistes à exercer leur métier en Israël et en Palestine. Cela doit alerter l’ensemble des rédactions françaises et internationales.

Enfin nous réclamons à nouveau et avec force un accès indépendant à la bande de Gaza pour les journalistes internationaux alors que d’après l’ONU plus de 240 journalistes palestiniens y ont été tués par l’armée israélienne depuis les attaques terroristes du 7 octobre 2023.

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English version

Israel's entry ban on Alice Froussard: RFI Journalists' Society (SDJ) and Correspondents' Association condemn an unacceptable attack on press freedom

Alice Froussard, Radio France Internationale's correspondent in Palestine and Israel, was denied entry into Israel at Ben Gurion Airport while returning to Ramallah, despite holding all the necessary authorisations.

She was forcibly placed on a flight to Paris by the Israeli police.

The RFI Journalists' Society (SDJ) strongly condemns this blatant attack on press freedom and expresses its outrage at the treatment of our colleague.

The SDJ stands in solidarity with Alice Froussard, who has spent the past six years reporting with rigour and courage on the lives of Palestinians. Her reporting has consistently reflected facts, testimonies and accounts conveyed with the utmost accuracy. Contrary to the allegations made by Amichai Chikli, Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Alice Froussard has never been associated with Hamas.

We call on the Israeli government to reverse this deeply concerning decision, which undermines journalists' ability to carry out their work freely in Israel and Palestine. This development should serve as a warning to newsrooms across France and the international media community.

Finally, we once again call, in the strongest possible terms, for independent access to the Gaza Strip for international journalists. According to the United Nations, more than 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed there by the Israeli army since the terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023.

Artist Grada Kilomba on representing a genocide...

 

Paris now has a monument commemorating the Rwandan genocide of 1994. 

It was designed by Grada Kilomba, a Portuguese artist with African roots (from Sao Tomé and Angola). 

Here is what she had to say about her creative process, her journey to Rwanda to meet survivors and about France and Europe's responsibilities...

Grada Kilomba

It was wonderful to meet in Paris with the artist and performer Grada Kilomba after the unveiling of the monument she designed to commemorate the genocide in Rwanda… 

Even deeper than our two previous interviews. 

More about our discussion soon.