{{short description|French journalist (1928–2023)}}
{{infobox Person | name = Philippe Tesson | image = Philippe Tesson.jpg | caption = Tesson in 2013 | birth_name = Philippe Marcel Tesson | birth_date = {{birth date|1928|03|01|df=yes}} | birth_place = Wassigny, Aisne, France | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|02|01|1928|03|01|df=yes}} | death_place = Chatou, France | education = Collège Stanislas de Paris | alma_mater = Sciences Po | spouse = {{marriage|Marie-Claude Millet|1969}} | children = Stéphanie<br>Sylvain Tesson<br>Daphné | employer = ''Le Figaro''<br>''Le Canard Enchaîné'' | occupation = Journalist }}
'''Philippe Tesson''' (1 March 1928 – 1 February 2023) was a French journalist and television columnist who primarily focused on theatre.<ref>{{cite news |last=de Saint Vincent|first=Bertrand|date=2 February 2023|title=Le journaliste Philippe Tesson est mort|trans-title= |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/le-journaliste-et-critique-dramatique-philippe-tesson-est-mort-20230202|language=French|work=Le Figaro|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> In 1974, he founded the newspaper ''Le Quotidien de Paris'', of which he was the owner and director of publication until 1994. He was also owner of the publishing house ''{{ill|L'Avant-scène|fr|lt=L'Avant-scène théâtre}}'' and the {{ill|Théâtre de Poche-Montparnasse|fr}} in Paris.
==Biography== Born in Wassigny on 1 March 1928, Tesson spent his childhood in the Thiérache region. During the German occupation of France, his father, Albert Tesson, was arrested.<ref>{{cite news |last=Launet|first=Edouard|date=30 May 2011|title=Philippe Tesson, immarcescible|trans-title= |url=https://www.liberation.fr/medias/2011/05/30/immarcescible_739124/|language=French|work=Libération|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> After World War II, he attended secondary school in Le Cateau alongside Pierre Mauroy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Veilletet|first=Pierre|date=March 2006|title=Philippe Tesson, le Combat au Quotidien|trans-title= |url=http://www.revue-medias.com/Philippe-Tesson-le-Combat-au,160.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130630055446/http://www.revue-medias.com/Philippe-Tesson-le-Combat-au,160.html|archivedate=30 June 2013|language=French|work=Revue Médias|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> He then worked as a secretary of debate in the National Assembly when he was invited to work alongside {{ill|Henri Smadja|fr}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gerard|first=Miller|date=6 March 2008|title=Philippe Tesson « J'aurais dû arrêter le journalisme plus tôt »|trans-title= |url=http://www.lavie.fr/archives/2008/03/06/philippe-tesson-j-aurais-du-arreter-le-journalisme-plus-tot,9219503.php|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120908110535/http://www.lavie.fr/archives/2008/03/06/philippe-tesson-j-aurais-du-arreter-le-journalisme-plus-tot,9219503.php|archivedate=8 September 2012|language=French|work=La Vie|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref>
At the age of 30, Tesson became editor-in-chief of the newspaper ''Combat'', a position he held from 1960 to 1974. After leaving ''Combat'', he brought a large number of editorial staff with him to the newspaper he founded, ''Le Quotidien de Paris''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nerson|first=Jacques|date=10 December 2009|title=Philippe Tesson, le verbe fait homme|trans-title= |url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/culture/actualit%C3%A9s/philippe-tesson-verbe-fait-homme.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120605013915/http://www.valeursactuelles.com/culture/actualit%C3%A9s/philippe-tesson-verbe-fait-homme.html|archivedate=5 June 2012|language=French|work=Valeurs actuelles|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> The controversial paper was open to all opinions and political ideologies, and he became director of publication and owner in April 1974. Financial problems led the newspaper to temporarily cease operations in 1978. When it reappeared the following year, it now held liberal views.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cerfontaine|first=Ella|date=1 October 2010|title=Philippe Tesson, un journaliste de combats|trans-title= |url= |language=French|work=France 5|location= |access-date=}}</ref> The Groupe Quotidien, which employed more than 550 people and owned ''Le Quotidien de Paris'' and ''Le Quotidien du Médecin'',<ref>{{cite book |last=Thiollet|first=Jean-Pierre|date=1991|title=Je réussis mon entretien d'embauche|trans-title= |url= |language=French|location= |publisher=Éditions Amarande|isbn=}}</ref> debuted ''{{ill|Le Quotidien du pharmacien|fr}}'', ''L'Action économique'', and ''Paris au quotidien''.
Tesson directed ''Le Quotidien de Paris'' until his publication ceased for good in 1994, primarily due to the beginning of the downfall of written press. During his time as owner of the newspaper, he also directed the weekly ''Les Nouvelles littéraires'' from 1975 to 1983 and was director of collections of the Éditions de la Table ronde from 1962 to 1972.
On 9 January 2014, in the wake of the "Dieudonné affair", Tesson called for the actor's execution on the radio program ''Accords/désaccords'', hosted by Guillaume Durand on Radio Classique. His comments were not denounced by Durand or the radio station.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=14 January 2014|title=Un journaliste appelle au meurtre de Dieudonné|trans-title= |url=https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/un-journaliste-appelle-au-meurtre-de-dieudonne-139084103397|language=French|work=20 minutes|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> He was a guest on Europe 1 six days later while a complaint was filed against him by the {{ill|Tribunal judiciaire de Paris|fr}} for an incitement of murder. He doubled down on his remarks, although stating that it was not an "incitement of murder" but instead a "formula of style".<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=15 January 2014|title=Dieudonné : le dérapage de Philippe Tesson|trans-title= |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/societe/les-dangereuses-sorties-de-philippe-tesson-sur-dieudonne-15-01-2014-3496541.php|language=French|work=Le Parisien|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> On 6 March 2014, LCI and Radio Classique were warned by the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=7 March 2014|title=LCI et Radio Classique mis en garde par le CSA après les propos de Philippe Tesson sur Dieudonné|trans-title= |url=https://www.jeanmarcmorandini.com/article-317758-lci-et-radio-classique-mis-en-garde-par-le-csa-apres-les-propos-de-philippe-tesson-sur-dieudonne.html|language=French|work=jeanmarcmorandini.com|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref>
On 13 January 2015, in the wake of the January 2015 Île-de-France attacks, he declared on Europe 1, "Where does the problem of the attack on secularism come from if not Muslims? Do we say that? Well I say it! […] Am I dreaming ? That's our problem right now, it's the Muslims who question secularism! It's not the Muslims who bring shit to France today? It must be said".<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=16 January 2015|title=Polémique après les dérapages du journaliste Philippe Tesson sur les musulmans|trans-title= |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2015/01/16/philippe-tesson-serait-vise-par-une-plainte-apres-ses-propos-sur-les-musulmans_4558129_3224.html|language=French|work=Le Monde|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bouchet-Peterson|first=Jonathan|date=15 January 2015|title=Philippe Tesson et «les musulmans qui amènent la merde en France»|trans-title= |url=http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2015/01/15/philippe-tesson-et-les-musulmans-qui-amenent-la-merde-en-france_1181208|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150117145157/http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2015/01/15/philippe-tesson-et-les-musulmans-qui-amenent-la-merde-en-france_1181208|archivedate=17 January 2015|language=French|work=Libération|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> A complaint was filed against him two days later for incitement of hatred.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=16 January 2015|title=Philippe Tesson visé par une plainte après ses propos sur les musulmans|trans-title= |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/philippe-tesson-vise-par-une-plainte-apres-ses-propos-sur-les-musulmans_AN-201501160010.html|language=French|work=BFM TV|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> A preliminary investigation commenced on 19 January 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=19 January 2015|title=Le parquet ouvre une enquête pour « provocation à la haine raciale » contre Philippe Tesson|trans-title= |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2015/01/19/le-parquet-ouvre-une-enquete-pour-provocation-a-la-haine-raciale-contre-philippe-tesson_4558874_3236.html|language=French|work=Le Monde|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> The ''Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel'' also began an investigation after receiving several complaints on the remarks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Durupt|first=Francis|date=20 January 2015|title=Le CSA saisi des propos de Philippe Tesson sur «les musulmans qui amènent la merde»|trans-title= |url=https://www.liberation.fr/societe/2015/01/20/le-csa-saisi-des-propos-de-philippe-tesson-sur-les-musulmans-qui-amenent-la-merde_1184493/|language=French|work=Libération|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> MRAP filed a complaint for "defamation and provocation to hatred" and the ''Coordination contre le racisme et l’islamophobie'' (CRI) named Tesson in proceedings.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=27 January 2015|title=Après celle du Mrap, nouvelle plainte contre Philippe Tesson|trans-title= |url=http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2015/01/27/apres-celle-du-mrap-nouvelle-plainte-contre-philippe-tesson_1190113|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150129112934/http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2015/01/27/apres-celle-du-mrap-nouvelle-plainte-contre-philippe-tesson_1190113|archivedate=29 January 2015|language=French|work=Libération|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> On 17 March 2015, a judge of the Tribunal de grande instance de Paris rejected the complaint of the CRI on the grounds that "Mr. Tesson's remarks cannot be understood as a generalization according to which people of the Muslim faith are by nature and as a whole responsible for the evils disorders of French society".<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=24 March 2015|title=Tesson / islamophobie: première plainte en référé rejetée|trans-title= |url=https://www.arretsurimages.net/articles/tesson-islamophobie-premiere-plainte-en-refere-rejetee|language=French|work=Arrêt sur images|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref> The CRI announced its intentions to appeal the decision.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=24 March 2015|title=La justice couvre-t-elle les islamophobes ?|trans-title= |url=http://www.crifrance.com/la-justice-couvre-t-elle-les.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20160927145054/http://www.crifrance.com/la-justice-couvre-t-elle-les.html|archivedate=27 September 2016|language=French|work=Coordination contre le racisme et l'islamophobie|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref>
Tesson died in Chatou on 1 February 2023, at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beauve-Méry|first=Alain|date=2 February 2023|title=Philippe Tesson, journaliste, patron de presse et passionné de théâtre et de littérature, est mort|trans-title= |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2023/02/02/le-journaliste-philippe-tesson-est-mort_6160230_3382.html|language=French|work=Le Monde|location= |access-date=2 February 2023}}</ref>
==Decorations== *Knight of the Legion of Honour (1987)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000866671|title=Décret du 13 juillet 1987 PORTANT PROMOTION ET NOMINATION (ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR)|date=14 July 1987|work=Légifrance|language=French}}</ref> *Officer of the Legion of Honour (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000020849237|title=Décret du 13 juillet 2009 portant promotion et nomination|date=14 July 2009|work=Légifrance|language=French}}</ref>
==Books== *''De Gaulle 1er, la révolution manquée'' (1965) *''La Pensée unique. Le vrai procès'', with other authors including Jean Foyer, Jacques Julliard, Jean-François Kahn and Jean-Pierre Thiollet (1998) *''Où est passée l'autorité ?'' (2000) *''La Campagne de France'' (2012)
==Bibliography== * "Philippe Tesson", in ''Hallier, tout feu tout flamme'', Jean-Pierre Thiollet, Neva Editions, 2023, p.264-274 .{{ISBN|978-2-35055-309-2}}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tesson, Philippe}} Category:1928 births Category:2023 deaths Category:20th-century French journalists Category:21st-century French journalists Category:21st-century French male journalists Category:French television presenters Category:French literary critics Category:French theatre critics Category:Le Figaro people Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour Category:Collège Stanislas de Paris alumni Category:Sciences Po alumni Category:People from Aisne Category:French critics of Islam Category:French recipients of the Legion of Honour