“She was no longer much in my eyes”: how Lady Di’s death cost Bruno Masure his place

When the news fell on August 31, 1997, all the newsrooms were in turmoil in France, especially in Paris where the the terrible accident that claimed the life of Princess Diana. Although she was no longer a member of the British royal family, Lady Di remained an important public figure in the minds of many people around the world. This was clearly not the case of the journalist Bruno Masure who remembers it like it was yesterday.

Bruno Masure: “For me, it was a non-event, little more than a news item”

IInterviewed by Télé-Loisirs on this crazy day of August 31, 1997, the former star of the 8 p.m. news from France 2 still has a bitter taste.. “This August 31, 1997… It was I who should have presented the 1 p.m., in addition to the 8 p.m.! It was planned like that. But when I reported to the newsroom in the morning, my name had disappeared from the roster. I had been replaced…” And for good reason: according to the journalist, his reaction to the call informing him of the death of Princess Diana while he was on duty was undoubtedly the cause of this eviction.I was sleeping the sleep of the righteous when I received a call from an editorial assistant informing me of the Princess’ death. I was on duty. I replied that it was very sad news… and I hung up” he explains, before continuing “For me, it was a non-event, little more than a news item. Diana was not on the succession list of the royal family of England. She wasn’t much to me anymore. I probably added a little in bad faith…”

For the one who presented the 8 p.m. that evening, it was neither more nor less than the worst news of his career. “Journalistically, he continued, I was ashamed of what we put on the air that day. I remember the head of Arlette Chabot, then director of information. When I passed her in the hallways, she seemed as devastated as if she had learned of the death of a loved one. I found it really too much. Worst newscast of my career.” The following October 2, Bruno Masure was thanked and it was Daniel Bilalian who completely took over the 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. news box. For him there is no doubt, it is this event that caused his place. “I was less and less in agreement with the way information was processed. I felt that I was very close to the exit door. When they saw the way I reacted, that surely confirmed the management in its intention to ‘burden me’. This is what happened a fortnight later, when I was informed of my eviction”. This is a date that the journalist is not about to forget.