Jean-Marc Morandini affair: sentenced on appeal, the host will stay on CNews

“Once again, Jean-Marc Morandini wishes to recall that he completely disputes the accusations brought against him. (…) In this file open for almost… 10 years, we have decided to appeal to cassation. The press release, signed by Céline Lasek and Florence Rault, the two lawyers of the Cnews host, did not drag. He was sent only an hour after the decision of the Paris Court of Appeal, which confirmed on Monday the condemnation of the presenter for sexual harassment, aggravating his sanction at 18 months in prison suspended.

The most important passage for Morandini’s career is in the fourth paragraph. “Jean-Marc Morandini is therefore always presumed innocent. A semantic clarification which will allow the 59 -year -old man to return to the antenna of CNews this Tuesday morning, from 10:30 am, as if nothing had happened. On the side of the information chain, we refuse to comment, but we confirm that this conviction does not change its unwavering support to its employee.

CNews is based on the presumption of innocence

Since the release of the case, in the summer of 2016, CNews has been based on the presumption of innocence to justify the presence on the antenna of the one who will know on March 5 if the Paris Court of Appeal also confirms his Condemnation for corruption of minors in the other part of this case. The leaders play on the words since they swore at the time that his departure would occur in the event of “final condemnation”, which is not the case here since it will be necessary to wait for the decision of the Court of Cassation. Then that of the European Court of Human Rights, if the decision is not suitable for Jean-Marc Morandini?

His program is an audience success

However, the Breton industrialist pushes that his alleged friend innocent joined the writing of his news channel continues, despite the bronca of the editorial staff. Its recruitment causes a very long strike, at the end of which a hundred journalists, out of 120 in total, slam the door, allowing the editorial turn, which is bearing fruit today.

Another explanation, his program is an audience success. Since September, “Morandini Live” has had 415,000 faithful on average, for 10 % audience share (PDA). High scores, which continue to progress since viewers were 339,000 the previous season (8.4 %). To the point where CNews is ahead of BFMTV on this time slot since the 2022-2023 season. Between 10:30 p.m. and noon, BFMTV has 284,000 followers on average (6.8 % of the public). Morandini’s sidelining could cost the chain dearly.