**The expanding news empire of French billionaire Vincent Bolloré and the exodus of employees protesting his controversial media policies have exposed a troubling practice in the journalism industry: to obtain severance packages, French journalists must sign agreements that prohibit them from speaking freely about their employers for an indefinite period. These “confidentiality,” “loyalty” and “non-disparagement” clauses prevent hundreds of journalists from publicly criticising, testifying against and potentially reporting on media conglomerates and their affiliated companies. As a result, corporate interests supersede the public’s right to information. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) investigated this underreported issue and calls for stricter limitations on these clauses, especially when the employer's activities extend beyond the media sector.**