Nice publicity stunt for an almost unknown title. The front page of the third issue of Special History, devoted to the colonies, was widely circulated on social networks this Thursday. Its headlines - "an incredible time", "Saigon, what a memory!" »- questioned Internet users, struck to see a press title openly praising the supposed benefits of colonialism.
Although some thought it was a hoax, this magazine exists and will soon be available on newsstands - a delivery problem seems to have delayed its appearance.
Like dozens of other titles, it belongs to the controversial Robert Lafont group, not to be confused with Robert Laffont editions.
This is not a supplement to Gorafi but a real magazine sold on newsstands! pic.twitter.com/YBjEA29n5R
- Florian Louis (@flr_louis) February 4, 2020In 2015, this author of a book entitled “Becoming rich” was described as “copy-paste editor” by Le Monde. The group's business model, listed on the stock market, is based on dozens of publications devoted to various themes such as Vélo Sprint, L'Essentiel du jardin, Celebrity magazine or Special cats.
Charges of plagiarism
Realized at low cost but sold expensive in newsstands (almost nine euros for Spécial Histoire), they are sometimes the subject of accusations of plagiarism. Whether it is articles published by the competition or more or less discreet quotes from the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
In 2018, Jeux Vidéo Revue had, for example, been singled out for having siphoned articles from Le Monde, GQ and specialized sites like Game Kult or GamerGen. Questioned by L'Obs, the Robert Lafont group then referred to the editor, an external service provider named Maxyme Hubner.
On social networks, he is accused of hiding behind the pseudonym Darey Levezu to occupy the same function within Spécial Histoire. Contacted several times by Le Parisien, Darey Levezu did not respond to our requests.
Marketing coup
In an extract shared online, the magazine defends itself from wanting to start "an endless debate on the benefits or harms of colonization". He evokes, however, the "benefit" of the "many schools" built over the period, regrets the "permanent repentance" on this subject and takes as an example the United States, which has become "the first power in the world, and the colonists have a lot to do with it. ".
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The article, which is relatively far from the usual journalistic standards, is not free from mistakes (“what to bring”), just like the front page (“the spoils of decolonization”). What to suspect a title made in a hurry on a supposedly controversial subject. Which would not be out of sync with the strategy of Robert Lafont, a follower of marketing moves.
Coming from a Parisian business school, this entrepreneur, for example, edited “The Journal of Yellow Vests” at the height of the social movement. He can also boast of having published the first post-mortem biography of Johnny Hallyday. Sold for 15 euros, "Johnny Forever" was released on December 14, 2017. Nine days after the rocker's death.