Nicolas Barré becomes editorial director of “Politico”

For the former editorial director of Echosit’s the end of a professionally uncomfortable period. The American political information site Politico will welcome Nicolas Barré at the head of its French editorial team next January, at the end of the notice period which will keep him at the economic daily of the Les Echos-Le Parisien group (LVMH group) until the end of December.

Exempted from working during his notice period, the man who most recently served as editorial director marked his departure with a drink with his now former colleagues last week.

After having directed, for ten years, the writing of EchosMr. Barré was brutally removed in March 2023. The journalists had interpreted this sanction as a desire by their shareholder to intervene in their work, certain articles being deemed to have displeased him. After exercising their right of veto against François Vidal, they remained without an editorial director for more than a year, until the arrival of Christophe Jakubyszyn in April.

The milestone of 50,000 subscribers

“I am delighted to join this group [propriété, depuis 2021, du groupe de médias allemand Axel Springer]which has great ambitions in France and in Europe”comments Mr. Barré, rejoicing at the “hyper-independent English-language journalism”made of scoops and cutting-edge information, which is practiced there. “This very high-end digital information, this editorial team of 500 journalists based in Brussels, Washington, London, Berlin, Paris… this is the future”continues the one who was correspondent in Tokyo, then in New York, for Les Echos. Beyond the articles offered free of charge on its home page, Politico lives from subscriptions at rather high prices paid by companies, non-governmental organizations, ministerial offices and other places of power. The milestone of 50,000 subscribers was reached during the year.

With its twenty-five journalists, the French editorial team of Politicoopened in 2021, has just added around ten journalists, and aims to recruit at least as many in the coming months. In the position awaiting him, Mr. Barré succeeds Marion Solletty, who becomes a senior reporter (editor at large), and will continue to sign articles.