Jean-François Kahn, a Major Figure in Journalism, Passes Away at 86

Jean-François Kahn, journalist, essayist, and founder of L’Événement du Jeudi and Marianne, passed away on Wednesday, January 22, at the age of 86, his family announced to AFP, following an initial report by Le Point. This emblematic figure of French media leaves behind a career marked by creativity, boldness, and intellectual commitment.

A Rich and Committed Career
The son of philosopher Jean Kahn, Jean-François Kahn began his professional life as a teacher before turning to journalism, which he described as his “refuge.” At a young age, he joined Paris-Presse, where he notably covered the Algerian War and uncovered the Ben Barka affair, the 1965 kidnapping of a Moroccan opposition leader in Paris. Throughout his career, he contributed to L’Express, Le Monde, Europe 1, Les Nouvelles Littéraires, and Le Quotidien de Paris.

In 1984, he founded L’Événement du Jeudi, a groundbreaking magazine in which readers were given partial ownership of the publication. While the magazine enjoyed initial success, it ceased publication in 2001 after several attempts at revival. In 1997, he launched Marianne, a politically engaged weekly, which he managed until 2007.

A Man of Strong Convictions
An outspoken polemicist, Jean-François Kahn championed what he referred to as “revolutionary centrism.” He supported François Bayrou during the 2007 and 2012 presidential campaigns, asserting that Bayrou represented “the man France needed.” In 2009, Kahn ran in the European elections on a MoDem list but resigned shortly after his election to return to his passion: the press and public debate.

Known for his forthrightness, Kahn never hesitated to take bold stances, even when they sparked controversy. In 2011, after making ill-advised remarks about the Strauss-Kahn affair, he decided to “turn the page” on journalism, ending a 50-year career.

Tributes to a Media Giant
His death prompted many tributes. François Bayrou described him as “a giant and a rare man” on the social network X, emphasizing “the incredible creativity and boldness” that led him to establish “era-defining publications” such as L’Événement du Jeudi and Marianne.

According to Le Point, Jean-François Kahn was “a bit Marxist, a bit Christian, a bit Jewish, a bit left-wing, a bit liberal, ultimately centrist—where he was most truly himself.”

Jean-François Kahn was also the brother of chemist Olivier Kahn, who passed away in 1999, and geneticist Axel Kahn, who died in 2021. A man of ideas and debate, he leaves a lasting legacy in the French media landscape.