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Editor of Le Monde Resigns Amid Discord Editor of Le Monde Resigns Amid Discord
(4 months later)
PARIS — Faced with a newsroom revolt, the editor in chief of Le Monde, France’s most prominent newspaper, stepped down on Wednesday after a 14-month tenure marked by staff resistance to her efforts to push the paper faster and more fully into the digital era. PARIS — Faced with a newsroom revolt, the editor in chief of Le Monde, France’s most prominent newspaper, stepped down on Wednesday after a 14-month tenure marked by staff resistance to her efforts to push the paper faster and more fully into the digital era.
The editor, Natalie Nougayrède, had been criticized by her staff for a top-down management style and an inability to build consensus. The discontent was focused largely on a plan to redesign the newspaper and its electronic applications and transfer more than 50 staff members from the print newspaper to the digital operation.The editor, Natalie Nougayrède, had been criticized by her staff for a top-down management style and an inability to build consensus. The discontent was focused largely on a plan to redesign the newspaper and its electronic applications and transfer more than 50 staff members from the print newspaper to the digital operation.
Two of her deputies announced their resignations last week, and seven other editors resigned weeks earlier in opposition to the way Ms. Nougayrède, 47, and the paper’s owners were going about changing Le Monde.Two of her deputies announced their resignations last week, and seven other editors resigned weeks earlier in opposition to the way Ms. Nougayrède, 47, and the paper’s owners were going about changing Le Monde.
She was elected to the job by the newsroom staff in March 2013 under the prevailing system at Le Monde, in which the paper’s principal owners nominate candidates to be voted on by the journalists. It was not immediately clear who might succeed her.She was elected to the job by the newsroom staff in March 2013 under the prevailing system at Le Monde, in which the paper’s principal owners nominate candidates to be voted on by the journalists. It was not immediately clear who might succeed her.
In a letter of resignation, which was posted on Le Monde’s website, Ms. Nougayrède, the first woman to hold the titles of both editor in chief and director, said she was leaving the paper because “I no longer have the means to run it with all the necessary peace and serenity that is required.”In a letter of resignation, which was posted on Le Monde’s website, Ms. Nougayrède, the first woman to hold the titles of both editor in chief and director, said she was leaving the paper because “I no longer have the means to run it with all the necessary peace and serenity that is required.”
Ms. Nougayrède blamed those who wished to “reduce drastically the prerogatives of the head of paper.”Ms. Nougayrède blamed those who wished to “reduce drastically the prerogatives of the head of paper.”
Ms. Nougayrède, a longtime foreign correspondent and a former Moscow bureau chief for Le Monde, is a strong advocate of investigative journalism. Under her leadership, the newspaper deployed a team of about 10 journalists to work on a series of articles based on documents from Edward J. Snowden, the former contractor for the United States National Security Agency who leaked information disclosing the scope of the agency’s vast data gathering.Ms. Nougayrède, a longtime foreign correspondent and a former Moscow bureau chief for Le Monde, is a strong advocate of investigative journalism. Under her leadership, the newspaper deployed a team of about 10 journalists to work on a series of articles based on documents from Edward J. Snowden, the former contractor for the United States National Security Agency who leaked information disclosing the scope of the agency’s vast data gathering.
Le Monde was among the first news organizations to write about the use of chemical weapons in Syria by the government of President Bashar al-Assad. That was the work of reporters who were traveling with the Syrian rebels and who collected samples from where attacks were believed to have taken place and then had them analyzed.Le Monde was among the first news organizations to write about the use of chemical weapons in Syria by the government of President Bashar al-Assad. That was the work of reporters who were traveling with the Syrian rebels and who collected samples from where attacks were believed to have taken place and then had them analyzed.
Yet those journalistic accomplishments, critics said, could not outweigh the larger problems at the newspaper, which had to do with Ms. Nougayrède’s efforts to expand and strengthen its digital presence and to make it more profitable, and with her management style.Yet those journalistic accomplishments, critics said, could not outweigh the larger problems at the newspaper, which had to do with Ms. Nougayrède’s efforts to expand and strengthen its digital presence and to make it more profitable, and with her management style.
“It is a crisis linked to the growth of digital in a traditional company of the written press,” said Alain Frachon, a former senior editor of Le Monde. “And on top of that, there is strong discontent.”“It is a crisis linked to the growth of digital in a traditional company of the written press,” said Alain Frachon, a former senior editor of Le Monde. “And on top of that, there is strong discontent.”
Defenders of Ms. Nougayrède said they believed that as a woman she was subjected to far more harsh criticism than a man would have been for demanding changes at the paper.Defenders of Ms. Nougayrède said they believed that as a woman she was subjected to far more harsh criticism than a man would have been for demanding changes at the paper.
A professor at the Sorbonne, Patrick Eveno, who teaches history of the media, said Le Monde and other French newspapers were going through the same kind of upheaval that American newspapers went through several years ago.A professor at the Sorbonne, Patrick Eveno, who teaches history of the media, said Le Monde and other French newspapers were going through the same kind of upheaval that American newspapers went through several years ago.
“It has taken French journalists time to understand that it wasn’t just an economic crisis, but a crisis in social habits, that the information as a product had to be transformed,” he said.“It has taken French journalists time to understand that it wasn’t just an economic crisis, but a crisis in social habits, that the information as a product had to be transformed,” he said.
While many people who respect Le Monde said they view it as having done far more to adapt to the digital age than many other French news publications, it remains difficult to change the French newspaper culture.While many people who respect Le Monde said they view it as having done far more to adapt to the digital age than many other French news publications, it remains difficult to change the French newspaper culture.
“In France there is a confusion between the role of the newsroom, which is to produce content, and that of the newspaper itself, which is a larger community,” Mr. Eveno said. “French journalists are a little panicked by the passage to the digital era.”“In France there is a confusion between the role of the newsroom, which is to produce content, and that of the newspaper itself, which is a larger community,” Mr. Eveno said. “French journalists are a little panicked by the passage to the digital era.”
The challenge has been that much greater because among many senior journalists, there is a special prestige associated with working in print.The challenge has been that much greater because among many senior journalists, there is a special prestige associated with working in print.
Ms. Nougayrède had been criticized for failing to consult broadly with senior editors, and discontent with her leadership boiled over amid the management proposal for a print and digital redesign and the transfers of journalists to the digital staff. While the journalists could have refused the transfers, the sense was that changes were being thrust upon them.Ms. Nougayrède had been criticized for failing to consult broadly with senior editors, and discontent with her leadership boiled over amid the management proposal for a print and digital redesign and the transfers of journalists to the digital staff. While the journalists could have refused the transfers, the sense was that changes were being thrust upon them.
In April, seven of the newspaper’s senior editors sent an internal letter to the management that was leaked to the French news media saying there was “major dysfunction” and “an absence of confidence” with newsroom management.In April, seven of the newspaper’s senior editors sent an internal letter to the management that was leaked to the French news media saying there was “major dysfunction” and “an absence of confidence” with newsroom management.
“We have tried to bring solutions, but it didn’t work,” the letter said. “We have realized that we are no longer able to carry out the tasks entrusted to us, and that’s why we are resigning from our respective posts.”“We have tried to bring solutions, but it didn’t work,” the letter said. “We have realized that we are no longer able to carry out the tasks entrusted to us, and that’s why we are resigning from our respective posts.”