RTS announced on Sunday the death of journalist Jacques Zanetta, former television news presenter and well-known figure to French-speaking viewers of a certain generation. He was 86 years old.
“Jacques Zanetta was part of the history of French-speaking television,” writes RTS. He was the first to present the telenews from Geneva, on January 1, 1982, during the 5:45 p.m. edition. A completely new formula for the telenews which was then divided into three, with the main edition at 7:30 p.m. and the night edition.
For around ten years, he held this position, at a time when it was still called Swiss Romande Television. Within the channel, he produced all kinds of programs and documentaries and called himself “curious by profession”. The RTS notes “his acute sense of information”, and recalls that he notably covered the trial of the butcher of Lyon, the SS criminal Klaus Barbie, in 1987.
“Sense of humor and a smirk in all circumstances, he touched on everything, from educational programs to major interviews,” says the RTS tribute.
News-Swiss
