Mélanie Faure 7:44 p.m., March 02, 2022
Former director of information for TF1 from 1987 to 1993, Michèle Cotta remembered her collaboration with Jean-Pierre Pernaut with Europe 1. It was she who, in 1988, had chosen the journalist to succeed Yves Mourousi at the helm of the 1 p.m. newscast.
Michèle Cotta was director of information for TF1 from 1987 to 1993, under the Jean-Pierre Pernaut era.
In search of a talent to pilot the 13H news of TF1 at the departure of Yves Mourousi, the journalist had spotted his colleague.
"The best", in the eyes of Michèle Cotta.
This Wednesday, after the announcement of the death of Jean-Pierre Pernaut at 71, the former leader of TF1 reacted to the microphone of Europe 1.
Michèle Cotta remembered these years of working with the star of TF1.
"He was loved by the people he worked with," said the former journalist.
"Jean-Pierre Pernaut was a journalist that I can describe as rigorous. He was both a manager of his newspaper because it was very important, the team around him and at the same time a closer vision people who truly represented his state of mind.
“He found the support of a certain number of French people”
When she recruited Jean-Pierre Pernaut in 1988, Michèle Cotta was convinced that he was the ideal candidate.
With viewers, the seduction mission will immediately be a success.
"We thought at the time that we had to bring TF1 closer to decentralized cities and that we needed a presenter who was more popular," she recalled.
"Immediately, it was a real success. He found the support of a certain number of French people who, precisely, rather provincials returning home at noon and therefore listening to the newspaper at 1 p.m.."
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A success that will fly over the audiences of TF1's 8 p.m.
"He said 'I am the busiest newspaper', which obviously displeased the presenter of 8 p.m. But it was true", concludes Michèle Cotta.