French bookstores protest Hachette owner's media influence

Independent bookshops in France are pushing back against the influence of Vincent Bolloré, a conservative billionaire who owns the publishing giant Hachette Livre. Many booksellers are limiting orders of Hachette books and moving them to lower shelves. This response is part of a broader concern over Bolloré's growing media empire, which includes television, radio, and newspapers, and is seen as a threat to cultural diversity. Bolloré's control of Hachette Livre, the largest publishing house in France, has raised alarm among independent sellers who worry about a single company's power over the literary landscape. Some have started a "bookmark rebellion," placing bookmarks in stores to inform readers about Hachette's influence. These bookmarks often carry messages like "boycott Hachette," particularly targeting books linked to Bolloré. Bookseller Thibaut Willems from Paris's Le Pied à Terre acknowledges the difficulty of boycotting Hachette due to its vast catalog of popular authors. He chooses to limit the stock of new Hachette titles and redesign the displays to raise awareness among customers. Another bookseller, Martin Beddeleem from Lyon, agrees that complete boycotts could jeopardize their businesses, so they are selecting other publishers for certain book categories. Protest groups seeking to raise awareness have created around 700,000 bookmarks, which they distribute so that readers can learn more about Hachette's far-reaching impact. Prominent authors, including Nobel winner Annie Ernaux, have voiced their opposition, declaring they will not work with Hachette due to its connections with Bolloré. Experts in publishing have expressed concern that Bolloré's expansion could threaten freedom of expression and diverse viewpoints in France. They compare his growing influence to that of media mogul Rupert Murdoch in the United States. The situation continues to evolve, with booksellers and readers actively engaging in discussions about the future of publishing in France. Hachette Livre has not commented on the situation.