Jean-Pierre Elkabbach, a veteran of political journalism, died on October 3, 2023 at the age of 86. His impressive career has taken him to interview the world’s greatest leaders, from Arafat and Putin to Clinton and Mandela. But beyond his professional successes, Elkabbach was also known for his pugnacious and sometimes controversial style.
Born September 29, 1937, Jean-Pierre Elkabbach began his career in the media as an RTF correspondent in Oran. He then made his television debut in 1970, presenting the news on La Une then de la Deux. In 1977, he was appointed head of news at Antenne 2, but following the victory of François Mitterrand in 1981, he was ousted from the channel because of his supposed links with Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.
Despite these setbacks, Elkabbach bounced back by joining Europe 1 in 1982, where he became antenna director then deputy general director. In 1991, he returned to television as CEO of France 2 and France 3, where he promoted the emergence of new presenters. However, his career was marred by controversies, particularly around contracts awarded to hosts-producers at France 2.
In 2005, Elkabbach took the reins of Europe 1 and tried to turn around the station, then in difficulty. His supposed proximity to Nicolas Sarkozy earned him some taunts from the Guignols of Canal+. Despite these criticisms, he managed to maintain the station’s notoriety.
Apart from his journalistic activities, Elkabbach also wrote a book entitled “The Shores of Memory” in 2022, in which he looks back on his childhood, his journey and his significant encounters.
The death of Jean-Pierre Elkabbach has sparked many reactions. President Emmanuel Macron hailed a “sacred monster of French journalism”, while former President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his sadness at seeing a great journalist leave.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach leaves behind an important legacy in the world of French political journalism. His pugnacious style and expertise have allowed him to interview the most influential figures of our time. His career, although controversial in some respects, will go down as one of the most remarkable in the history of French journalism.