French media close ranks behind Charlie Hebdo

RFI’s parent company, France Médias Monde, has joined other French media organisations in condemning Wednesday’s attack on Charlie Hebdo. They have pledged to ensure that the satirical paper will continue to publish and defend press freedom. The statement follows:

A journalist brandishes his press card at a tribute outside Charlie Hebdo's office on Thursday Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes

I am Charlie.

Yesterday in Paris the paper Charlie Hebdo was the target of a terrorist attack. Twelve people died – journalists, police officers, friends.

In the name of all France’s media organisations, we wish to express our deepest sympathy to our colleagues, their families, to those who died protecting them and to the whole Charlie Hebdo team.

Freedom of the press, the very spirit of freedom have been deeply wounded through this attack on them. The satirical press shakes, wakes and agitates our consciences. Through humour it invites us to overcome sectarianism and fundamentalism.

The victims brought laughter into our lives to make us more free. More than ever freedom of thought and freedom of expression are at the core of our daily work. On this day of mourning we declare that we will not give in to threats or terror. We will not permit the imposition of silence and are determined to fight all forms of stigmatisation.

The French media are ready to provide the human and material resources needed for Charlie Hebdo to continue to exist. We must all be ready to defend the freedom of the press. We will continue to defend it in their name.

The following media bosses had signed the statement at midday on Thursday with more signatures expected to follow:

Christopher Baldelli (RTL), Christophe Barbier (L'Express), Jean-Paul Baudecroux (NRJ), Pierre Bellanger (Skyrock), Jérôme Bellay (Le Journal du Dimanche), Nicolas Beytout (L’Opinion), Véronique Cayla (Arte), Matthieu Croissandeau (L’Obs), Nicolas de Tavernost (M6), Bruno Delport (Nova), Louis Dreyfus (Le Monde), Marc Feuillée (Le Figaro), Mathieu Gallet (Radio France), Etienne Gernelle (Le Point), Emmanuel Hoog (AFP), Jean Hornain (Le Parisien),Patrick Le Hyaric (L'Humanité), Gérard Leclerc (LCP-AN), Gilles Leclerc (Public Sénat), Bertrand Meheut (Canal+), Francis Morel (Les Echos), Denis Olivennes (Lagardère Active/Europe 1), Nonce Paolini (TF1), Fabienne Pascaud (Télérama), Rémy Pflimlin (France Télévisions), Matthieu Pigasse (Les Inrockuptibles), Dominique Quinio (La Croix), Olivier Royant (Paris Match), Marie-Christine Saragosse (France Médias Monde), Jean-Christophe Tortora (La Tribune), Jean-Eric Valli (Les Indés Radio), Maurice Szafran (Le Magazine Littéraire), Alain Weill (NextRadioTV)