Raphaël Pomey becomes new editor-in-chief at La Région
Following the controversial departure of its editor-in-chief, the Vaud-based newspaper La Région has found a successor. Starting in early November, Raphaël Pomey will head the editorial staff of the regional newspaper, which is based in Yverdon-les-Bains.
The Board of Directors of La Région has appointed the long-standing journalist as its new editor-in-chief, the newspaper announced on Tuesday. Pomey began his journalistic career in 2006 at La Région started. He later worked at Le Matin Bleu, 20 Minutes, and Le Matin. For the past three years, he has been Head of Communications at Lausanne City Police.
The new editor-in-chief succeeds Caroline Gebhard, whose departure a few weeks ago caused a stir beyond the canton of Vaud. Gebhard said she had been dismissed. Her lawyer claims she was dismissed unfairly. The Board of Directors, on the other hand, stated that the editor-in-chief had resigned of her own accord.
The city council of Yverdon had previously complained to the newspaper. La Région had not adequately reported on several local events. The city announced that it would no longer publish its official information for the population in the regional newspaper in future. The paper had been earning almost 28,000 francs a year with the newsletter.
The affair led to a crisis in the city government. The three left-wing councillors broke with the principle of collegiality. They claimed that they had not been involved in the city council's decision to dispense with the municipal newsletter. The right-wing majority of the city executive accused the left of lying.
At the beginning of July, a demonstration was held in Yverdon in support of the former editor-in-chief and for freedom of the press. A petition with 820 signatures disapproving of the "veiled dismissal" was sent to the Board of Directors of La Région sent. (sda)
