In this episode of La Loupe, Christine Ockrent, former editorial director of L’Express and author Françoise Giroud: a French ambition published by Fayard, tells the story of the co-founder of L’Express.
The team: Charlotte Baris (presentation), Mathias Penguilly (production) and Jules Krot (direction).
Music and design: Emmanuel Herschon/Studio Torrent
Image credits: Daniel Janin/AFP
Logo: Karhouna Lê/L’Express
Credits: France 2, INA, RTS
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Charlotte Baris: For the 70th anniversary of L’Express, the entire editorial team delved into the newspaper’s archives where we found numerous photographs of its founders: Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber and Françoise Giroud. Each time, the scenography is the same: the two journalists are bent over their work, concentrated. He has furrowed eyebrows and a serious look – it must be said that the man we nickname “JJSS” is not known for being a fun-loving person… Sometimes he gives a slight smile, a little flirtatious. At his side, Françoise Giroud seems jovial, charming, very well dressed in her high-quality suits. In each of these photos, a big smile crosses his face. These images bear witness to the first golden age of L’Express, in the 1960s. From this prosperous era when Françoise Giroud made the entire political inner circle tremble thanks to the finesse of her pen…
Catherine Nay: Françoise, she was imposing. She was the boss who was, as I said, admired, feared, recognized. And so, on Monday, when L’Express came out, the deputies rushed to buy the newspaper and to see she was talking about them in her “candle”. Besides, those she spoke about were often upset because she scratched them, but the most upset were those she never spoke about. It was an honor – almost – to have been scratched by Françoise Giroud.
Charlotte Baris: These words were entrusted to us by Catherine Nay, during the production of our event series on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of L’Express. To continue the celebrations, we have decided to dedicate a double episode to its founders: after Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber yesterday, place to the one who shaped several generations of journalists.
Chapter 2: Françoise Giroud, the school of journalism
“The man who will read us”: 70 years ago, Françoise Giroud’s first editorial in L’Express
To mark the 70th anniversary of L’Express, enter its archive library
L’Express, pioneering newspaper (1/4)
L’Express, its feathers and politics (2/4)
The fights of L’Express (3/4)
L’Express, what a story! (4/4)