In Orléans, “the Republic of the Center” hit hard by the Center France social plan

Faced with the erosion of sales of the eight daily newspapers and losses of 4.6 million euros in 2025, the Center France group, established in Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme) and owner of “La République du Centre”, will eliminate 152 positions (122 actual departures and 30 non-replacements), or 10% of the workforce.

In an extraordinary CSE, convened last week, the new CEO Francis Gaunand, who arrived at the beginning of November, was particularly serious: “Without rapid measures, the sustainability of the group could be threatened”, he warned to justify these savings measures estimated at 2.5 million euros.

“Everyone is afraid”

In Loiret, “the Republic of the Center” will pay dearly for this social plan with 13 positions eliminated: eight members of the editorial staff including six journalists, a photographer, a deputy head of sports and four multimedia editors working at the title’s headquarters in Orléans, where “everyone is afraid in the short, medium or long term”, admits a journalist from the editorial staff who wishes to remain anonymous. “Nearly a quarter of the editorial staff is affected! And again, compared to The Mountainwhich eliminates 65 positions (after a first wave of 70 departures in 2024), we are not doing so badly.”

This announcement, which is added to “the bloodletting imposed on all the regional written press”, had been feared for several weeks already. “When we see the generalized declines in the distribution of titles, the emergence of AI, there is reason to worry about the future of our profession,” he explains. In 2025, “La République du Centre” saw its circulation drop by 6.53% (18,444 copies).

Laurence Coupérier, SNJ delegate of journalists, questioned the “Press Media newsletter” about the ability of the editorial teams to continue the mission “of covering local news with such degraded staff”.