"We will come out of exclusives again," insists Jérôme Cazadieu, managing editor of the newspaper L'Équipe. The daily newspaper, specializing in sports news, must adapt after the suspension of major events such as the French Championship and the European football cups or the rugby top 14 following the measures taken to stem the epidemic coronavirus. But the editorial staff reassures its readers: the newspaper will go out every day without getting the news.
“The magazine (Editor's note: which comes out on Saturday) also, just like France Football. Nothing will change on digital either. We have already known complicated moments during the attacks in 2015, at the Stade de France. The Team is not just a ball and players who compete on a field. It is also societal. We have enriched our offer with cultural and economic pages for several years. "
So there is no question of sounding the alarm. "We have a lot of stories to tell: disabled sports competitions continue in China, some athletes will have the coronavirus, others will still train ... We have a lot to do with a reduced pagination of 28 pages, summer type. "
With, of course, a section on the economic consequences for clubs. While correspondents will provide reports in countries where there is no contraindication for holding sports gatherings.
"The competitions have disappeared, but not the athletes"
Another point of development: offer more "magazine" series with deeper angles. "Like where can we still do sport on the planet?" or go back to competitions that took place during complicated periods in the past, such as the Tour of Spain, during the Second World War. "
But also "cooler" subjects. In this area, the newspaper "does not prohibit anything", including concrete proposals for their readers, such as sport at home. "If on Monday there is still a tightening of measures, we will go in this direction. "
In the firing line: provide attractive content while protecting the health of employees. “We will set up telework like everyone else to limit contacts. "
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As for the suspension of sporting events, the editorial staff takes it fatally. “We all understand. Playing behind closed doors would not have made sense. It is the opposite of the spirit of a sports meeting, ”confides a reporter on the fly. When Jérôme Cazadieu assures him: “The competitions have disappeared, but not the sportsmen, neither the clubs, nor the institutions. They will have a lot of news during the week. "