The godmother of Factual, Christine Kelly, chose to jump ship, barely seven months after the launch of the online media. The flagship host of CNews, close to Eric Zemmour, announced it internally on Tuesday December 5 via WhatsApp, as revealed The letter. ” Mission accomplished “, she commented laconically on X on Wednesday, relaying an article on her departure. Like Dominique Rizet, the police justice consultant for BFM-TV who sponsors the media, Christine Kelly had signed a paid image contract to participate in the creation of the website and has a minority stake in the capital. “She wanted to regain her freedom”evades Hugues de Foucauld, the general director of Factual. Asked, she did not wish to respond At World.
The departure of the former member of the former Higher Audiovisual Council from 2009 to 2015, who became a flagship journalist for CNews, comes as the young company is going through economic difficulties, simple “adjustments” depending on the direction of the title. In April, at the time of the pre-subscription campaign, the management of Factual had set a target of 10,000 subscribers for the May launch. The website currently has only 700 paid supporters according to our information, confirming that of The letter. “This figure is lowered but will remain confidential,” retorts television producer Stéphane Simon, main shareholder with investment banker Sami Biasoni, preferring to highlight the 8,000 subscribers to the newsletter (which is free). Thierry Ardisson’s former producer says he “serene” with the idea of convincing 25,000 subscribers allowing it to reach balance by 2026.
The fact remains that two economic layoffs have recently been added to the ten departures in recent months out of the twenty employees hired at launch, not to mention that the editor-in-chief, Romain Renner, will leave the media in January 2024 for ” personal reasons “.
“Marottes around news items”
Also, Stéphane Simon’s recurring interference in the editorial ended up shocking several former members of the editorial staff. “As publishing director, I communicate with the editorial staff and the subjects are unanimously agreed upon”replies the one who founded the sovereignist magazine Popular Front with the philosopher Michel Onfray and the 100% video online media Neo with Sami Biasoni.
“ He has his favorite things around news items and current events which will provoke unreasonable reactions”, estimates a former employee wishing to remain anonymous. While claiming editorial impartiality, Factual produces articles, in its society and police justice sections, which embrace the concerns of the right and the extreme right: from the assassination of Samuel Paty to that of the young Lola, including the attack in Arras or the knife attack in Paris on December 2.
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