21 Dec 2012

New Caledonia's daily still for sale despite ownership change

10:14 am on 21 December 2012

There is continued disquiet among journalists at New Caledonia's only daily newspaper after its sale has been confirmed.

The Nouvelles Caledoniennes has been bought by a French businessman, Bernard Tapie, and the Hersant family who jointly spent 68 million US dollars to acquire a range of papers across France and its overseas territories.

They were sold by the Groupe Hersant Media, which has already shed its dailies in French Polynesia, to pay off debts.

The New Caledonian section of the business is still for sale, with interest reportedly being shown by a local wholesaler and a car distributor.

The journalists at the Nouvelles Caledoniennes say they still fear a loss of what they see as their hard won editorial independence.