Nicolas Barré becomes editorial director of Politico France

New face at the head of Politico France. This editorial team of around twenty journalists, writing in French and English for its flagship Politico Europe, based in Brussels, will be led from January by a well-known name in the economic press: Nicolas Barré, former director of the editorial staff of Echoes. “I am extremely proud to join Politico, an international media recognized for its rigor, its independence and its depth,” he declared in a press release.

Nicolas Barré held the helm of the economic daily for ten years, before being brutally disavowed in March 2023. A long period of instability followed: the candidacy of his number 2 François Vidal to take over from him had been rejected by the editorial staff, and the latter was managed on a rotating basis for many months. It took more than a year before the name of a new director was proposed by shareholder LVMH, and approved by journalists: Christophe Jakubyszyn, from BFM Business. During this period, Nicolas Barré became editorial director, and signed international reports as well as the newsletter “My Echoes of the week”.

Media for public policy professionals

The Paris office of Politico Europe was launched in 2021 with the primary objective of converting French political and influential circles into subscribers. This editorial team now publishes four daily newsletters, of which only Playbook Paris, dedicated to political news, is freely accessible. In addition to deciphering French politics and its influence games, the editorial team focuses on climate and energy transition policies as well as the tech sector. The offer, placed under an expensive paywall (the subscription is worth several thousand euros per year), is intended primarily for public policy professionals (politicians, civil servants, lobbyists, etc.). Politico France also organizes numerous conferences and events aimed at this audience.

Nicolas Barré replaces journalist Marion Soletty, who built and then directed the Parisian editorial team for more than four years, and becomes «editor at large». “She will write on major French and European issues while leading strategic projects in collaboration with all Politico teams. This includes in particular key partnerships and the development of our events offer in France.specifies the press release.

American online media, Politico was created in 2007 by former Washington Post journalists to “disrupt” political journalism. The title crossed the Atlantic in 2015 with the aim of becoming the leader in coverage of European institutions. From London to Berlin via Paris, Politico has spread to the continent's major capitals. The media was acquired in 2021 by the German group Axel Springer.