Two France 24 journalists, Nina Masson and Young Chim, were subjected to attempted intimidation and censorship after they asked a film actor about an anti-Petition against Vincent Bolloré, owner of various media outlets. This petition sparked widespread controversy during the Cannes Film Festival. The France 24 Journalists Association denounced these incidents, describing them as "unprecedented seriousness."
Published on: 05/06/2026 - 17:36 Last updated: 05/06/2026 - 20:08
The France 24 Journalists' Association (SDJ) on Friday, June 5, denounced what it described as a "serious violation of press freedom" and the pressure to which two journalists from the channel were subjected after a question was asked regarding the anti-Vincent Bolloré petition, which caused a crisis within the French cinematic community during the recent Cannes Film Festival.
The incident occurred during an interview given in the promotion of the film La Bataille de Gaulle, a work dedicated to the character of General de Gaulle, in which the actor Simon Abkarian plays the main role. During the interview, while one of the film's actors was talking about the concept of commitment, journalist Nina Masson responded with a question about the anti-Vincent Bolloré petition, which recently sparked widespread controversy on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, to the point that prompted the French government to comment on it.
According to a statement from the France 24 Journalists Association, the actor seemed confused by the question and preferred to avoid responding. It was supposed to end there. However, what happened after the interview ended “represents an extremely dangerous precedent,” as the actor’s media relations officer prevented the FRANCE 24 team from leaving the room, and threatened it, demanding that it immediately hand over the memory stick containing the recording of the interview. But the journalists refused in a professional manner.”
Read also: “Canal+” stops cooperating with 600 cinema workers after they signed a petition against its owner, Vincent Bolloré.
As the team refused to respond to these demands, which they considered illegal and in violation of journalistic work ethics, another media relations official intervened. Under pressure, Nina Mason and her colleague Young Chim were forced to sign a “commitment not to broadcast the controversial part of the interview.”
“Such methods, where my equipment is taken away and I am asked to hand over the memory card, I have previously encountered in authoritarian regimes,” Julie Dongelhoff, president of the France 24 Journalists Association and a reporter experienced in difficult field coverage, told France Coulter radio. She added that this incident reveals the extent of the "fear" that has crept into the French cinematic community and led to a kind of self-censorship. She also expressed concern that some media relations officials feel that they can put pressure on journalists.
At the conclusion of the statement, the Journalists Association affirmed its full support for Nina Mason and Yong Chim, and strongly condemned what it described as the “intimidation and censorship practices” to which they were subjected, stressing that “press freedom is not subject to negotiation.”
France 24 also condemned in the strongest terms the pressures exerted on its journalists, describing them as outdated practices that constitute an unacceptable violation of press freedom.
“We strongly condemn the acts of intimidation targeting our journalistic teams,” said France 24 editorial director Vanessa Bourggrave. “I find this approach extremely shocking, and it requires an immediate apology. Our team has been subjected to mistreatment in the performance of their professional duties, and this cannot be allowed to set a precedent.”
France 24
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