JDD: with its first issue published this Sunday, Geoffroy Lejeune assumes a “very committed” newspaper

2023-08-07 03:54:36

Readers of the first JDD Geoffroy Lejeune version, published this Sunday, “will find the major markers of this newspaper and, at the same time, it is perfectly up to date”, revealed the new editorial director during his first public intervention. . “He is very committed, he defends good causes (…) It is a number which will perhaps not mark the history of France but at least the history of the press”, continued Geoffroy Lejeune on Europe 1 (radio of the Lagardère group, like the JDD).

The appointment of this journalist marked on the extreme right at the head of the weekly had provoked a 40-day strike, which ended on Tuesday, within the editorial staff of the JDD. This first edition under his direction had been announced for mid-August, before being published by surprise shortly after midnight on the newspaper’s application. This is a 32-page issue (20 less than the last edition), the front page of which is devoted to insecurity and justice after the death of a 15-year-old boy stabbed to death. July 22 in the Eure.

Criticized by Internet users for the choice of photos of a white march in tribute to another teenager with the same first name killed in a road accident in the Landes in January, Lagardère News replied to AFP that it had “made the choice of a photo of A symbolism to illustrate the distress of families in the face of atrocity”, of which “road insecurity (…) is a part”.

“A Baptism of Fire”

The publication took place in a rather “surreal” atmosphere with many “volunteers” and “good wills”. “Yes, it was a real baptism of fire,” admitted Geoffroy Lejeune. This Tuesday, after the end of the strike movement, “amply commented on by the media”, “I understand that I can start working and that’s what I wanted to do for several weeks”, he said.

Then begins a race against time. “Since it was impossible, a few of us decided to do it,” he continued, calling this publication a “miracle”. “There were very few of us to relaunch the JDD machine (…) and goodwill was revealed to come and help us,” he added.

We thus find the signatures of Charlotte d’Ornellas and Raphaël Stainville (former of Valeurs Actuelles, like Geoffroy Lejeune), Pascal Praud, journalist for Europe 1 and CNews, Jacques Vendroux, for sport, or Éric Naulleau (ex-companion of debate by Éric Zemmour, whom the former editor-in-chief of Current Values ​​supported in the presidential election of 2022).

Geoffroy Lejeune, 34, has experienced several controversies. Under his direction, the weekly Valeurs Actuelles was notably sentenced to a suspended fine of 1,000 euros for public insult of a racist nature against LFI deputy Danièle Obono.