A price reduced from 2.40 euros to 2.70 euros, sections with modified titles, weekly notebooks transformed into newsletters, a finer 4-page newspaper three days a week, new recurring thematic files… These days, the readers of The cross saw the age-old daily newspaper founded by the Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption make several changes. “To better respond to the challenges of the time”, explained the newspaper, Thursday, January 5, in a double page as it produces each year to report to its readers on its results and orientations. To cope with certain economic constraints too, the newspaper having ended 2022 with a negative operating result of 4.1 million euros.
Although the changes implemented are not likely to radically transform the title, nor even, a priori, to change its editorial line, they have been accompanied by a redistribution of skills and positions within the editorial staff, effective since beginning of 2023, which generated great tension in the fall. “Two general assemblies in quick succession, we had never seen that”says a journalist who, like many of her colleagues contacted, does not want her name to be associated with a statement that could damage the image of her newspaper.
At the heart of the concerns: a new heading, “decided in an opaque manner and which fell on us without our having been consulted”adds one of his colleagues. “We wanted to ask ourselves the question major themes on which we wanted to strengthen our proposal », justifies Jérôme Chapuis, editorial director since 2021. The ecological transition and “technological breakthroughs” (artificial intelligence, quantum computing, etc.) as well as their impacts on lives having appeared as areas to be better invested in , the Economy (renamed “Eco and transition”) and France departments were subject to a rapid reorganization. Probably too much.
“It is not in the DNA of the newspaper to experience such authoritarian approaches”, commented Marie Verdier, journalist at the international service. One of his colleagues mentions “a mille-feuille effect”them “wispy job titles” adding to concerns about increased workload.
A few departures
After having had to insist on obtaining clarifications on this reorganization which did not say its name, the social and economic committee (CSE) of the Bayard group (Our time, The cross, Pilgrim, I like to readetc.) issued a negative opinion at the end of the information-consultation process. “For questions of method more than substance”insists Agnès Duperrin, the union delegate (CFDT) and secretary of the CSE, who admits having “wanted mean, for a future reorganization, that we did not want to be short-circuited”.
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