Le Poulpe has presented itself as a "Normandy-based investigative media outlet" since its launch in Rouen in 2019. Founded by Manuel Sanson and Gilles Triolier, correspondents for AFP and Le Monde, the site boasts in-depth investigations, financial independence, and methodical exploration of local issues. On paper, the promise is that of a journalistic counterweight. In practice, however, a different face emerges with each new publication.
A review of their files reveals a constant: local authorities, elected officials, public institutions, and major economic players in Normandy. Yesterday it was Hervé Morin and the Normandy Region; today it's the Évreux urban area, public procurement contracts, industrial sites, Le Havre, and major companies. Taken individually, these topics fall under the purview of journalistic reporting. Together, however, they reveal a pattern that raises questions: that of a near-constant questioning of those holding local positions of responsibility.
One recurring theme in the criticisms leveled against the "investigative" media outlet is that its investigations almost systematically target elected officials considered right-wing or center-right. Hervé Morin, president of the Normandy Region, has been the subject of several publications. More recently, Guy Lefrand, president of the Évreux urban community, found himself at the center of articles questioning local governance. This recurrence fuels the idea of a political bias that goes beyond mere chance.
The case of the article about "a strange €126,000 public contract" at the Évreux urban community illustrates this dynamic. The subject is technical, difficult for the general public to understand, but presented in an atmosphere of suspicion that immediately puts the institution on the defensive. Even without any formally established irregularity, the effect is powerful: to sow doubt, then let the accusation linger.
The other, more sensitive aspect concerns the legal proceedings. The two executives were questioned in 2024 as part of investigations involving the disclosure of investigative materials or breaches of confidentiality. The media outlet refers to pressure tactics and "SLAPP suits" (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). But these summonses also highlight a fundamental reality: investigative journalism demands extreme legal rigor. When a media outlet finds itself skirting these red lines, the question of its methods inevitably arises.
Around these cases, disputes are multiplying, as are threats of legal action. Le Poulpe sees this as proof that it is causing a stir. Others interpret it as a sign of journalism that regularly ventures into high-risk areas, where factual evidence sometimes struggles to dispel the impression of a pre-written narrative.
At the heart of this mechanism, Manuel Sanson and Gilles Triolier appear as experienced journalists. Their careers led them to hone their skills in newsrooms known for a distinctly left-leaning editorial stance, which, for some local elected officials, sheds light on the coherence between their professional trajectory and the tone of the investigations published today.
The name chosen for the media outlet refers to an animal known for having three hearts. In Normandy, it's also known for being excellent to cook. The question remains, raised by several local stakeholders: does this media outlet, which relentlessly hunts down the flaws of others, retain the journalistic core of nuance, balance, and moderation? Or has it specialized in a one-sided form of investigation, effective at sowing suspicion, but far less so at calming public debate?
