The transfer window is well underway.
While he took control of the mid-day newspaper of France 2 in January, following the departure of Marie-Sophie Lacarrau for TF 1, Julian Bugier decided to refocus his activities.
And thus announces to us to abandon the radio box of 6 pm to 8 pm of Europe 1 which it animates for a year.
A carefully considered decision.
You are going to celebrate your six months at the 13 Hours of France 2, what is your assessment?
JULIAN BUGIER.
It's very positive, with good momentum.
In a few months, we have succeeded in enriching and clarifying the editorial line, with new sections.
This allowed the newspaper to breathe new life, regionalize it and strengthen its proximity to the viewer.
And in terms of audiences, we are nibbling away market share and fully intend to continue this momentum.
You also allow yourself more spontaneity, with topical comments.
I always thought the midday newspaper could be more casual than the evening one.
We are in a different mindset and listening.
And personally, it allows me to be more myself, more spontaneous, more smiling.
It allows me to show myself as I am in life, where the “20 Hours” is more corseted.
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What changes are you preparing for the start of the school year?
We are constantly evolving with the teams.
Information from France 2 is very innovative and ahead of its time, in terms of how to tell information.
And I love that part of the job, creating new narrative forms.
Then there will be the issue of the presidential election where we will find our swimming lane, with a way of telling the campaign differently.
I really want to give the floor to citizens to spark a debate of ideas.
In parallel with the “13 Hours”, you are in charge of the 6 pm to 8 pm Europe 1. Isn't that too difficult gymnastics?
It is a very complementary and very demanding exercise.
I loved this year spent at Europe 1 alongside great teams.
And I still believe in his ability to rebound.
Personally, it allowed me to gain naturalness and spontaneity.
You hadn't considered quitting when you took over the France 2 newspaper?
No, because I had made a commitment to Constance Benqué, the director of Europe 1. And I attach great importance to the word given.
This is a question that I had discussed with France Télévisions, specifying that it was impossible for me to stop along the way.
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Will you continue after the start of the school year?
With the pace and the presidential campaign coming, I made the decision to put an end to the collaboration with Europe 1. I do it frankly with regret, especially since our hearing results were very encouraging
(Editor's note: 181,000 listeners on average in January-March 2021, up slightly over one year)
.
But I don't think you can fight two battles at the same time in an election year, so I prefer to refocus on 13 Hours.
This decision has nothing to do with the expected arrival of Vincent Bolloré?
Not at all.
First, to date, it seems to me that the question has not been asked.
It is true that there are uncertainties on the continuation but that did not weigh in my decision.
Could you come back to the radio at a later date?
With great pleasure and a lot of desire, yes.
I have learned a lot this year and I have the feeling that it is a medium made for what I am capable of bringing to animation.
If someone offered it to me, I would go back willingly… but after the presidential election (laughs).
Besides the 13 Hours, what are your other projects with France 2?
I am in discussion for a major citizen debate program within the framework of the presidential election, which would give the floor to the French so that they deploy their ideas.
The management is very receptive to it.
And “All in all” (
Editor's note: his show on consumption
) will return this summer, in the second part of the evening.
We have four issues in preparation.
We had already had an issue in this box, dedicated to Amazon.
So we hope to have the same success.