Le Point magazine triggers a dismissal plan concerning 58 stations – Liberation

In the corridors of the magazine The point,, « It’s amazement ». This Wednesday, April 23, in the morning, the executives of the weekly held by François Pinault and led by Etienne Gernelle took the floor in front of all employees to announce a job safeguard plan (PSE) concerning 58 positions. In all, 32 permanent employees and 26 regular freelancers will be affected, out of the 200 employees and the hundred freelancers employed by the newspaper. “Employees do not understand that a newspaper presenting themselves as the market leader is now faced with a social plan of this magnitude, entrust to Release An internal source at the weekly. It’s going to be a bleeding. « 

This PSE, which will start with a first voluntary starting phase « For a very small part of employees » According to our information, will be negotiated for two months between management and employees. Its implementation is scheduled for the start of the 2025 school year. In parallel with these deletions, the management of the Point also announced the creation of 18 positions. « But for this component, no details have been announced, it could very well be external recruitments », regrets the same source, which adds that this social plan is « Twice as important as the 2014 previous ». And to continue: « The writing took a hit on the helmet. »

The weekly correction /revision service will be on the front line – « And by far » – Faced with these future layoffs, when he had already been massively affected by the previous PES. All service on permanent contracts had been transformed into freelancers. With this new departure plan, only four positions will be kept on the current fifteen employees.

These four people will have the task of coming « Supervise the work of AI »deplores a journalist from Point, « because the idea of ​​management, It is because with the AIwe could do without the correctors ”. Another internal source adds to Release that « Artificial intelligence will really change the situation for this service ». However, AI will remain « Always under human surveillance », Does he try to reassure.

Among the other affected services: publishing, responsible for laying down the items, with 6 deleted positions. The service of journalists editors, in charge of writing articles, will also be amputated by 5 positions. “It’s panic for everyone. We doubled the scenario of the worst that we envisaged « testifies a journalist also under the cover of anonymity. For several months, the organization of weekly meetings in the premises of the magazine, in a room reserved under the inscription « Task Force HR », had already aroused the fear of the staff.

Etienne Gernelle, director of Point contacted by Releasesupports a « Reorganization project which is part of a global planning plan, an emphasis on the report, on the survey, and a relative withdrawal of the race for news which is imposed to us by the GAFAM ». With this project « Sovereignist »Etienne Gernelle wants « take into account the increased use of new technologies ” all in « Assistant social workers as well as possible ».

And another employee to emphasize: «  »We do not understand how management will manage to materialize its ambitions as an upmarket of the title with a team that will have around forty employees less. «