The Agence France-Presse (AFP) plans to cut around 5% of its global workforce, aiming to curb rising costs and avoid a cumulative operating deficit of 90 million euros over the next five years. The plan, presented by CEO fabrice Fries, involves not replacing 160 departing employees through natural attrition, offering incentives for departures – with 258 employees expected to reach 65 by 2023, two-thirds of whom are journalists – and simultaneously making 35 new hires.
The 125 net job losses will be split between 85 positions in technical and administrative roles and 40 among journalists. These measures are intended to reduce the agency’s costs by 16.5 million euros by 2023, with 14 million euros coming from personnel cost reductions. This will bring the annual increase in personnel costs down from 2.4% to 1.3%.
Management intends to begin negotiations with unions for a Job and Skills Management plan (GPEC) by the end of the year. Simultaneously, the agency will pursue a “transformation plan” aiming to generate 30 million euros in additional commercial revenue over five years through investments in visual content like video and photography. To fund this 21 million euro plan – including 13 million euros for departure support and 8 million euros for investments – AFP has requested 17 million euros in aid from the Public action Transformation Fund (FTAP). Fries believes this request is compatible with European union law, unlike his predecessor Emmanuel Hoog’s 60 million euro public aid request, which faced potential rejection.
Fries emphasized the need to reduce costs due to a “worrying” financial situation, calling the plan “difficult, but essential” to preserve the agency’s independence and fulfill its public interest mission. He took over from Hoog in the spring and quickly warned of “difficult years” ahead for AFP.
The potential sale of the agency’s Paris headquarters is still under consideration.
Fries warned that continuing on the current path would lead to failure. The National Union of Journalists (SNJ) criticized the plan, stating that the net reduction in jobs, particularly in editorial positions, could compromise the agency’s ability to fulfill its mission of informing the public. Employee representatives on the board of directors also expressed concern about the agency’s cash flow situation for 2019.
Fries confirmed that any decision to sell the headquarters would only be made if it generated “sufficient added value” and allowed the agency’s newsroom to be consolidated into a single building. As his appointment, Fries has prioritized growth in the video market – targeting television, digital platforms, and institutions – and strengthening AFP’s role in combating disinformation. He also reiterated the agency’s strengths and ambitions in areas like sports reporting, which could be developed through partnerships.
Founded after World War II, AFP operates in 151 countries and employs over 2,400 people of 80 nationalities, producing more than 5,000 news stories, 3,000 photos, and 250 videos daily.
