Veteran Israeli Journalist and Media Professor Gideon Kutz Dies at 78

Veteran Israeli journalist and media researcher Professor Gideon Kutz has passed away in Paris at the age of 78. For decades, Kutz was one of the Israeli journalists most closely associated with France and Europe, reporting from the continent on major events that shaped its trajectory.

Born in Lodz, Poland, in 1948, Kutz immigrated to Israel with his family in his childhood. He began his broadcasting career with Kol Yisrael in 1986 and later served as the First Channel's correspondent in Europe. Throughout his extensive career, he frequently covered pivotal news events across the continent, documenting the significant transformations in Europe from the late 1980s onward. He also held the position of president of the Foreign Press Association in France.

Kutz also contributed to the Walla! news website, reporting from Paris on events such as the Ballon d'Or ceremony, which he covered for many years. His deep familiarity with France and the European landscape stemmed not only from his reporting assignments but also from living and working there for a substantial part of his life.

In addition to his journalistic work, Kutz dedicated many years to academic research in his field. He was a professor of Media and Culture at Paris 8 University, a researcher of Hebrew and Jewish journalism history, and the editor of the journal "Kesher" for the study of journalism and media history. He served for five years as the president of the Foreign Press Association in France and later as its honorary president. Gideon Kutz is survived by his wife, journalist and photographer Yaffa Eiron-Kutz, and their two children.