Jade Azzoug Montane, "AFP : A unique undertaking, from its origins to the birth of its exceptional statutes, 1832-2015" A critical note
News about changes to AFP’s statutes, and the conflicts surrounding them.
Jade Azzoug Montane, "AFP : A unique undertaking, from its origins to the birth of its exceptional statutes, 1832-2015" A critical note
I was deeply saddened to learn of the death on Monday, June 1, 2020, of Jean-Michel Cadiot at the age of 67.
"AFP should serve the public interest (and nothing else)"
Four AFP Unions call a strike, and appeal to French MPs, over new plans to reform the agency’s statutes.
Following on from a report commissioned by President François Hollande on ways to change AFP’s financial arrangements, a new draft law seeks to make substantial changes to the 1957 statutes
Thanks to steadfast opposition by AFP staff, plus the almost 24,800 signatures gleaned by the petition, the fight to save AFP’s statutes from the attacks launched in 2007-8 has been in large part won.
Translated summary of joint union statements
According to the weekly "Canard Enchaîné", CEO Emmanuel Hoog has asked a PR agency with close links to the office of President Nicolas Sarkozy to help him promote plans to change AFP’s statutes. Staff are not amused.
Emmanuel Hoog, head of France’s National TV & Radio Institute (INA) is elected CEO after the abrupt resignation of Pierre Louette. News, reactions.
Pending the conclusions of the experts’ group set up by Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand, the SNJ, CFDT, FO, SUD and CFE-CGC trade unions decide to put off the staff vote scheduled for January 12. The CGT union disagrees.
The five "experts" appointed by Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand include Michèle Cotta, Jean-Marie Colombani and Henri Pigeat, a former CEO of the company
"Do you approve of the plans for new statutes defended by the CEO and involving the transformation of AFP into a joint-stock company ?" Joint union statement
The CGT journalists’ union takes a stand. Translated extracts
The petition for the independence and survival of Agence France-Presse, launched by the trade unions at the end of last year, has just passed the milestone of its 20,000th individual signature.
Rejecting the Louette plan, the unions call for a round-table discussion on AFP’s future
Following publication of the CEO’s plan to change AFP’s statutes, staff rallied outside the French Culture Ministry.
After the official Giazzi Report, which calls for AFP to be privatised, CEO Pierre Louette is mandated by the French government to draw up a plan. AFP staff mobilise.
Starting in late 2007, French political leaders begin issuing threats to rescind AFP’s historic statutes and to privatise the agency. Staff mobilisation leads to the launch of the "SOS-AFP" petition in late 2008.