EDITORIAL — Sleeves rolled up, refreshed by summer and enlivened by the taste of coffee, here we are ready for the start of the new school year. These reunions are not those of a journalist with his work, but with his readers. Pierre Lazareff said: The important thing is to be read. “Today, if the entrails of FranceSoir still hold our hearts and bodies, I would say that the important thing is to give you the floor, then to be read. I don’t invent anything. The editorial staff of 1946 already wrote it, and better than me:
“You voted. From tomorrow, you will have the floor thanks to France-soir.
A strictly objective news journal, France-soir, while always impartial, is never neutral. We remember the success of our campaigns against the sprawling army, and against the supply scandals. And, we are not about to forget the great investigation of Paul Bringuier: “What is wrong in France?”
When, for the second time, the country has just freely indicated the destiny it intends to choose, France-soir wanted the voice of voters to continue to be heard and that their most sacred rights could not be forgotten, by the very people in whom they had just placed their trust.. And for that, France-soir inaugurates, as of tomorrow, two new sections:
1 : Defense of the Frenchwhere each day, in concise and clear paragraphs — without any bias and regardless of political labels — we will try, by the simple statement of facts, to help our readers to defend themselves against the forces which try to tyrannize them — was it the force of inertia… and even to defend themselves sometimes against themselves.
2 : Our readers have the floorwhere our reader friends will find a platform to express themselves directly on all subjects of general interest.Thus, France-soir — born out of Défense de la France — will continue, in terms of daily life in times of peace, the work undertaken clandestinely on the plan of the oppressed nation at the time of the occupation. »
France-evening, Tuesday, June 4, 1946.
I would hardly say better, but I can at least try to honor this memory, this project. Times change, but do not erase what is inherent in Man, nor prevent History from repeating itself. As we wrote in our manifesto, today’s FranceSoir does not seek to “remake” what others strive to do in the world of the press – or of the world of the press… We’re not trend followers, we’re trend leaders…sometimes “contrariants”.
In this we work “like before”almost clandestinely, often booed, for “to help our readers defend themselves against the forces that try to tyrannize them” — was it another inertia? Today, as before, it is essential for us to carry your voices, those that we do not hear — or listen to — not. We aspire to a modern, collaborative and quality journalismand to do this we assume our intellectual, political and financial independence.
As before, as loyally as possible, we aim for impartiality, without neutrality. As before, we question each other freely and ensure that our most sacred rights cannot be forgotten. Like before, the most important thing for us is still to listen to you. You who form society and feel its effects, who are sometimes hurt, but still very much alive, don’t be afraid to stand up straight. Just think, and we’ll hear you. Speak well, and we will listen to you. Express your ideas with dignity, and we will carry them.
In honor of what FranceSoir has always been, we will do everything in our power to give credit to those who fight for Defense of Franceand so that they are never silenced.