Belgian Wilson Fache rewarded in the written press category

2023-11-27 20:26:20

It’s a « plume rare » and a talent for depicting “atmospheres” that the 85th Albert Londres prize wanted to crown: the Belgian Wilson Fache won the most prestigious award in French-speaking journalism on Monday.

A 31-year-old independent journalist, Wilson Fache was chosen for his reports on Afghanistan (published in French dailies Release and Belgian Litter), on the Tel-Aviv bus station (published in the French magazine Movement) and on Ukraine (Litter).

First Belgian winner

In the memory of the organizers, this is the first time that a Belgian has been victorious in the premier category, written press, in 90 years of the Albert Londres Prize. In addition, the 39th audiovisual prize was awarded to Hélène Lam Trong for her documentary “Daesh, the ghost children” (broadcast on France 5), about the children of French jihadists growing up in Syria.

Finally, the 7th book prize crowned Nicolas Legendre for “Silence in the fields” (Ed. Arthaud), investigation into Breton agro-industry. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the prize, the jury made up of former winners met in Vichy, the birthplace of Albert Londres (1884-1932), the father of great modern reporting.

The award bearing his name was awarded for the first time in 1933, and went to a certain Emile Condroyer for his reports in the daily The newspaper. Ninety years later, the 2023 jury welcomed the « plume rare » by Wilson Fache, his “talent of evocation” you know “ability to take your audience into atmospheres”.

Three independent journalists rewarded

“I am not an investigative or hot news journalist, but a reporting, storytelling journalist”who likes to depict “atmospheres”, declared the winner to AFP. Independent journalist, Wilson Fache covers the Middle East and major international news for numerous media (RTBF, RFI, Release, The Orient-The DayRTS, RTL…).

“This year’s three winners are three independent journalists: it’s a source of pride, because we are the most precarious of a profession devastated by the press crisis”, welcomed the journalist. After ten years of journalism, he said he hoped this prize would make his work easier: “I live freelance, on commission, and I’m not leaving” on a given land “if I don’t have enough orders” newspapers.