Franz-Olivier Giesbert

Franz-Olivier Giesbert (born January 18, 1949) is an American-born French journalist, author, and television presenter.[3]

Franz-Olivier Giesbert
Giesbert in 2022
Born (1949-01-18) January 18, 1949 (age 75)
NationalityFrench
American
EducationCentre de formation des journalistes de Paris[1]
Occupation(s)Journalist
Columnist
Author
Cultural television programs host[2]

Early life

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Franz-Olivier Giesbert's American father was a painter and G.I. during D-Day, and his mother, a philosophy teacher, was from Normandy, France. After the Second World War, his parents went to live in Delaware in the United States, where he was born.[4] At the age of nine, he discovered Ninety-Three by Victor Hugo in a library; he then avidly read all of Hugo's books and those of Honoré de Balzac. At nine, he decided to become a writer and began writing essays, pastiches, and novels.[4]

Career

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With a degree in journalism, Giesbert debuted at the age of 19 on the literary page of the regional daily newspaper Paris-Normandie, where he published interviews with Louis Aragon, Henry de Montherlant, Jules Romains, Maurice Genevoix, Alain Robbe-Grillet and others.[5][6] In 1971, he joined Le Nouvel Observateur as a journalist in the political department and then became a senior reporter. In 1985, Giesbert became the editorial director of the Nouvel Observateur.[6]

For his novel entitled L'Affreux (The Awful), he was awarded the 1992 Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française (Grand Prize for the Novel of the French Academy) from the French Academy.[7]

In 1997, Giesbert hosted the cable television weekly literary program Le Gai Savoir (The Cheerful Knowledge) broadcast on Paris Première.[8] In recognition for his work with Le Gai Savoir, he received the Prix Richelieu from the Defense of the French language association, which rewards journalists for the quality of their language.[9]

From 1998 to 2000, Giesbert was editorial director of Le Figaro.[6][10]

Giesbert was chief executive officer of Le Point from 2000 until 18 January 2014; he remained an adviser to the magazine, continuing to write editorials and articles.[11][12]

From 2011 to 2015, he hosted Les Grandes Questions (The Big Questions), a debate program broadcast on France 5.[13][14]

From 2012, he also hosted the monthly show Le Monde d'Après (The World After) featuring several guests discussing current news, broadcast on France 3.[15]

In 2013, he wrote the scenario of a documentary about his relationship with the former president of France: Nicolas Sarkozy, secrets d'une présidence (Nicolas Sarkozy, secrets of a presidency).[16]

In May 2016, Giesbert was awarded the newly created Récamier Prize for his novel, L'Arracheuse de dents (The puller of teeth).[17]

On 25 March 2023, he was awarded the Prix du livre politique (Political book prize) for his novel entitled Histoire intime de la Ve République: La belle époque (Intimate history of the Fifth Republic: The beautiful era).[18]

Controversies

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In 2007, he wrote the biography of Marseille's mobster Jacky le Mat, l'Immortel, adapted by Richard Berry.[19]

In 2018, he was attacked by Asia Argento and Marlène Schiappa for claiming that actresses who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault had to know what they were getting into. This was decried as gaslighting, slut shaming and victim blaming.[20]

In 2021, the pedophile writer Gabriel Matzneff described Giesbert as an unwavering support.[21] Giesbert was criticized by Laure Adler for complaining that people didn't speak French at the Marseille train station.[22]

Selected novels

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References

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  1. ^ Ruffin, François (February 2003). "Le Centre de formation des journalistes saisi par l'argent-roi" [The Journalist Training Center seized by the money/king]. Le Monde diplomatique (in French). Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. ^ Van Renterghem, Marion (6 July 2012). "Franz-Olivier Giesbert, le journalisme sans foi ni loi" [Franz-Olivier Giesbert, journalism without faith or law]. Le Monde (in French). Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Franz-Olivier Giesbert L'enfant devenu roi". Le Nouvel Économiste. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Van de Woestyne, Francis (2 April 2017). "Etats d'âme avec Franz-Olivier Giesbert: ..." [States of mind with Franz-Olivier Giesbert: "I'm not looking for the love of my colleagues"]. Interview. La Libre Belgique (in French). Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. ^ Benoît Vochelet, « Franz-Olivier Giesbert, l'Américain d'Elbeuf », Paris Normandie, 17th of May 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "Franz-Olivier Giesbert". Le Soir (in French). 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  7. ^ Coppermann, Annie (23 October 1992). "Le grand prix du roman de l'Académie française à Franz-Olivier Giesbert". Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. ^ Arrighi, Marie-Dominique (4 March 1997). "Franz-Olivier Giesbert ..." Libération (in French). Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. ^ de Oliveira, Françoise (5 May 2011). "Droit de réponse − 2011-05-05" [Right of reply − 2011-05-05]. Le Point (in French). Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ Delberghe, Michel (16 May 2000). "Franz-Olivier Giesbert quitte 'Le Figaro'" [Franz-Olivier Giesbert leaves 'Le Figaro']. Le Monde (in French). Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023. [the journalist resigned from his position as editorial director, which he had held since September 1998.]
  11. ^ Debouté, Alexandre (15 January 2014). "Franz-Olivier Giesbert tire sa révérence au Point" [Franz-Olivier Giesbert bows out at Le Point]. Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Le Point : Etienne Gernelle va succéder à Franz-Olivier Giesbert à la direction" [Le Point: Etienne Gernelle will succeed Franz-Olivier Giesbert as chief executive officer]. Les Echos (in French). Agence France-Presse. 16 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  13. ^ Larroque, Philippe (13 October 2011). "FOG: 'J'ai envie de faire une émission symbole'" [FOG: 'I want to do a symbol show']. Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  14. ^ Gibier, Henri (20 March 2015). "'FOG' entre les lignes" ['FOG' between the lines]. Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ Lopez, Joséfa; Renaud, Revel; Turquier, Benjamin; Wegener, Guillaume (5 October 2012). "Franz-Olivier Giesbert: 'Je ne veux pas être un journaliste scrogneugneu'" [Franz-Olivier Giesbert: 'I don't want to be a gruff journalist']. L'Express (in French). Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  16. ^ Galiero, Emmanuel (11 April 2013). "Giesbert décrypte Sarkozy pour France 3" [Giesbert deciphers Sarkozy for France 3]. TV Magazine (in French). Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023 – via Le Figaro.
  17. ^ "Franz-Olivier Giesbert lauréat du premier prix Récamier" [Franz-Olivier Giesbert winner of the first Récamier prize]. RTBF (in French). Agence France-Presse. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Franz-Olivier Giesbert lauréat du prix du livre politique" [Franz-Olivier Giesbert winner of the Political book prize]. Le Figaro (in French). Agence France-Presse. 25 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Sur les traces de «L'Immortel» à Marseille". 27 April 2009.
  20. ^ "Asia Argento excédée par les propos de Franz-Olivier Giesbert". 28 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Dans son livre auto-édité, Gabriel Matzneff rend hommage à "cinq soutiens indéfectibles"". 11 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Polémique entre FOG et Laure Adler: «Il n'y a rien de "tendancieux" à aimer la France et sa langue !»". 10 November 2021.