Lorraine de Foucher won the 86th Albert Londres prize on Wednesday, November 4, the most prestigious award in French-speaking journalism. The Feather of the World “tackles subjects that have been silenced for too long” such as violence against women, greeted the jury.
At 38, the journalist was chosen for her reports and investigations published in the daily on the Mazan rape affair, raped migrant women, victims of the porn industry, young girls sexually exploited in Perpignan and more teenage hitmen.
The jury paid a vibrant tribute to this pioneer: “she tackles subjects that have been silenced for too long in our society” et “treats them with curiosity, style and respect”with writing “high fashion”.
Audiovisual and book prices
Furthermore, the 40th audiovisual prize was awarded to Antoine Védeilhé and Germain Baslé for their film “Philippines: the little gold diggers” (broadcast on Arte), on the work of dangerously exploited children.
Finally, the 8th book prize crowned Martin Untersinger for “Spy, lie, destroy” (Ed. Grasset), an investigation into attacks in cyberspace.
The audiovisual reporting prize was created in 1985 and that of the best “investigation and reporting book” in 2017. The winners each receive €5,000.
To be eligible for the Albert Londres prize, candidates must be French-speaking and under 41 years old. A press card is not required to compete for the prize, which is open to all types of press (economic, political, sporting, cultural, etc.). Journalists can submit their applications as individuals: it is not necessary to be recommended by a newspaper, broadcaster, production company or publisher.
Made up of former winners, the jury reluctantly decided not to award the 2024 prizes in Beirut, two months ago due to the open war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. The ceremony was therefore held on Wednesday in Paris.
A “signal” sent
Albert Londres (1884-1932) is the father of great modern reporting. The award bearing his name was awarded for the first time in 1933 and went to a certain Emile Condroyer for his reports in the daily Le Journal.
Ninety-one years later, Lorraine de Foucher welcomes a « signal » sent with its price. “Male violence is a new field” for journalism and “it’s quite strong” to recognize it, “it ennobles matter”she declared, wishing that she would become « incontestable ».
“We work with very marked victims, there is the question of trauma, the management of emotion”underlines the winner, who evokes an exercise ” particular “.
A graduate of the Journalist Training Center (CFJ) in 2011, Lorraine de Foucher started at Le Monde as a freelancer in 2014, before becoming a full member of the Society department.
She had early participated in an investigation unit on the subject of feminicides, which led in particular to the broadcast of a shocking documentary on France 2 in 2020 revealing a recurring criminal pattern, of which she was co-director.
Last year, the 85th Albert Londres Prize rewarded independent Belgian journalist Wilson Fache for his reporting on Afghanistan (Liberation et The Echo), Tel Aviv bus station (Movement) and Ukraine (The Echo). Hélène Lam Trong was rewarded in the audiovisual category and Nicolas Legendre for books.
