Death of Jean-François Kahn: the famous journalist, founder of Marianne, died at 86

Jean-François Kahn, emblematic figure of French journalism, and creator of Mariannedied at the age of 86, on January 23, 2025. Author and founder of several major publications, he left his mark on several generations of readers with his incisive pen and critical spirit.

This is sad news for French journalism. As the newspaper reveals The Point, Jean-François Kahn died at the age of 86 on January 23, 2025. The announcement of his death was made without further details, neither on his state of health before his death, nor on the place where he took his last breath. Journalist, essayist and founder of weeklies Thursday Event et Marianne, Jean-François Kahn was a prominent voice of the French intelligentsia, always seeking debates of ideas and in-depth analyzes on major social issues. His death puts an end to a career several decades serving information and public debate.

Born June 12, 1938 in Viroflay, Jean-François Kahn began his career in 1959 at the newspaper Paris-Presse the Intransigent. He covered major events like the Algerian War. He then worked for The World et L’Expresswhere he led resounding investigations, including that into the Ben Barka affair. In 1984 he launched Thursday Event, a weekly marked by its independence and its freedom of tone. 13 years later, in 1997, he founded Marianne, which became a key figure in the French press and which he directed until 2007, before devoting himself to writing.

Jean-François Kahn was the father of three children

Jean-François Kahn rarely spoke about his private life. However, he has a heavy family heritage. The journalist indeed comes from a family of intellectuals, he who is none other than the son of the philosopher Jean Kahn-Dessertenne and the brother of the geneticist Axel Kahn. During his life, he had three children. : two from his first marriage with a woman unknown to the general public and another with his second wife, Rachel Assouline-Kahn, who was his companion from 1977 until his last breath. Established since 2014 in Normandy, more precisely in Donville-les-Bainshe continued his work of writing and reflection until his last days. There is no doubt that his death will mark an immense loss for French journalism.