The festival Scoop, which honors excellence in European television and photojournalism, dedicated this year’s festival to two young photographers, Rémi Ochlik and James Koegh, both scions of a small Parisian agency, Wostok press.

Overseen for the past twenty-five years by scientist and news lover Alain Lebouc, Scoop began in Angers, a charming village in the Loire Valley of France. Last year, however, its city hall decided to stop funding the festival.

Thanks to Philippe Vasseur, a former journalist turned President of the Grand Lille region, the festival became, “Scoop, European Journalism Festival” and found several sponsors, from the Minister of Culture and Communication to local businesses and organizations.

What sets Scoop apart is that it brings together two juries, one “scientific” and presided over by Etienne Klein, Research Director at the CEA (Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission), and another “society” jury presided over by Paul Nahon, a French television reporter. Among the jury members, there is Robert Pledge, president of the Contact agency; Olivier Jobard, a former photographer for the Sipa agency; agency director Deborah Altman; Patrick Weiss, director of the Visual agency; and yours truly.

Michel Puech