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René Backmann

1944 – 2026

French journalist

Journalist Humanitarian
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About René Backmann

Lived 1944 – 2026 (aged 81). René Backmann was a French journalist and humanitarian.

René Backmann (24 February 1944 – 29 January ⁠2026) was a French journalist known for international reporting at Le Nouvel Observateur and later for his columns at Mediapart, with work focusing on the Middle East and on questions of rights and humanitarian crises. He was the author of Un mur en Palestine and the English-language A Wall in Palestine, a reported study of the West Bank barrier that drew notice in the French and Anglophone press. His distinctions include the Mumm Foundation Prize for journalism, cited for an investigation into the financing of Islamist movements.

Career Backmann spent more than 40 years as an investigative reporter and foreign correspondent at Le Nouvel Observateur, ultimately serving as editor in chief of the weekly's foreign desk. His analysis also appeared in periodicals such as Confluences Méditerranée, where he published essays on civil military relations in Israel and debates about the role of religion in the army.

Death Backmann died on 29 January 2026, at the age of 81.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Centre de formation des journalistes
Employers
Le Nouvel Obs
Also known as
Rene Backmann

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped René Backmann's

Frequently asked questions

Who was René Backmann?

French journalist

When was René Backmann born?

René Backmann was born on 24 February 1944 in Clermont-Ferrand, Saint-Romain-le-Puy.

When did René Backmann die?

René Backmann died on 29 January 2026 in 15th arrondissement of Paris.

What was René Backmann's occupation?

René Backmann was a journalist and humanitarian.

What nationality was René Backmann?

René Backmann was French.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: René Backmann

· Wikidata: Q3425782

· DBpedia: René Backmann

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). René Backmann. https://biography.guide/rene-backmann/

MLA: "René Backmann." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/rene-backmann/.

Chicago: "René Backmann." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/rene-backmann/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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