At the International Journalism Festival, in Couthures, July 11, 2025.CAMILLE MILLERAND
The 360 inhabitants of Couthures-sur-Garonne (Lot-et-Garonne), whose houses are nestled in a bend of the river, experienced one of these floods in February with which their history is punctuated. They are, however, ready to host the International Journalism Festival, organized by the group “le Monde” and “le Nouvel Obs”, from July 10 to 12. This tenth edition will be the year of records: more than 200 meetings (meetings, debates, film and documentary screenings, photography exhibitions, interactive workshops, tasting of local products), and 150 guests, from Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine (France Télévisions) To Charline Vanhoenacker (France-Inter) via Marc Feuillée (“le Figaro”). A special place will be given to Russian journalist Dmitri Mouratov, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 (with Filipino journalist Maria Ressa), and editor-in-chief of the independent media “Novaya Gazeta”.
After the time of trials, the return of good weather? This will be the message of hope for this edition, marked by news that is both rich and threatening. Journalists, experts, researchers, political figures, historians, lawyers will come together for three days, under the cool shade of oaks and poplars, to question the major issues of today’s world: is artificial intelligence the friend or the enemy of information? Is it time for backlash for the #MeToo movement? Is the migration issue a reflection of a fractured society?
The festival aims to be the meeting place for those who seek to decipher the news with rigor and to defend quality information at precisely the moment when it seems to be in danger from all sides. It will also be an opportunity for readers of “New Obs” to meet some representatives of their magazine. The general director, Sandro Martin, will be present on Friday afternoon and will reflect on the place of a left-wing weekly in the context of the next presidential election, in the company of Jérémie Peltier, co-director of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation. For their part, journalists from the editorial team will co-host discussions around three subjects.
A sign of the proper functioning of democracies
The first theme, “Threats to investigative journalism”, testifies to the multifaceted pressures which are now exerted on the media and their actors. We know that freedom of information is a sign of the proper functioning of democratic societies. But it has never been so attacked. Throughout Europe, SLAPP procedures are increasing. They are characterized by an instrumentalization of the law to intimidate, even muzzle journalists, but also activists, academics, whistleblowers, NGOs and activists. Physical and verbal threats, online harassment, even death threats, made even by state representatives, are now the daily lot of French journalists.
The public during a conference in Couthures, July 13, 2025. CAMILLE MILLERAND
The Reporters Without Borders association, which publishes a world ranking of press freedom, was alarmed by the historic deterioration of the media situation in all countries. France occupies a very unsatisfactory 25e place in this ranking. How can the profession organize itself to continue to exercise its profession freely? This will be one of the questions asked, among others, to our guests and Valentine Oberti, co-editor of Mediapart, Benoît Collombat, director of the investigation unit of Radio-France, and Ksenia Bolchakova, Russian investigative documentary filmmaker, Albert-Londres Prize 2022.
The other theme addressed poses a disturbing question: “Can we still believe in the ecological transition?” In a world torn apart by wars, in societies stunned by populism, the environmental emergency is increasingly becoming a secondary issue. – not to say a foil. However, each day that passes, bringing its share of excessive heat, unpredictable natural disasters and major concerns for public health (neonicotinoids, cadmium…), shows us the urgent need to put in place ambitious policies, and accepted by society But do elected officials have the courage and talent to propose environmental reforms worthy of the name?
This is the question that will be answered, in particular, by MP Delphine Batho, MEP Pascal Canfin and the regional councilor of Nouvelle-Aquitaine Vital Baude. Of course, all of us citizens cannot escape a clarification of our collective responsibility either. Is our homo sapiens brain capable of this? Dr Pierre Burbaud will look into it. And, of course, the decisive role of businesses and the media in the transition will also be examined.
Festive activism
Finally, to celebrate this anniversary edition, we have chosen to think about the different ways of celebrating and what they say about us. Thermometer of the vitality of a society, our collective capacity to celebrate reveals the relationship we have with freedom, equality and fraternity. From the first carnivals to free parties, from village festivals to select clubs, with or without adjuvants, to New Years, to funerals and even under bombs, man has always needed to commune on the dance floor. Didier Lestrade, founder of Act Up-Paris and tutelary figure of festive activism, will question the political dimension of the fiesta, with sociologist Emmanuelle Lallement and critic Arnaud Idelon.
Festival-goers can pitch their tent on the banks of the Garonne. In Couthures, July 13, 2025 LAURINE VARNIER
Today, at the heart of the news, the evolution of the legislation against free parties will be the subject of a discussion, which promises to be lively, between the geologist Alexandre Grondeau, one of the pioneers of the movement in France, and Blandine Sarrazin, mayor of the village of Barp (Gironde), where hundreds of ” teufeurs” meet regularly. The festival will also welcome the young journalist Max Laulom and his wonderful documentary, “Kyiv is a party”, dedicated to the festive impulses of Ukrainian youth. And then, when night comes, it will be time, for the speakers and the festival-goers, to dance now. Â
