Veteran Israeli Journalist and Media Historian Gideon Kutz Dies at 78

Professor Gideon Kutz, a prominent Israeli journalist and media historian, passed away in Paris at the age of 78. Throughout his extensive career, Kutz served as an international correspondent and commentator, covering major global events including wars and revolutions. He also held a position as a full professor of communication and culture at the University of Paris.

Kutz began his journalism career as a satirist for the student newspaper "Pi Ha'iton" and later wrote for satirical stages, television and radio programs, and the newspaper "Davar." In 1977, he became "Davar's" correspondent in Paris and its global envoy, remaining with the paper until its closure in 1996. He also contributed to "Maariv," "Yedioth Ahronoth," "Globes," and "Hadashot."

His broadcasting career included work for Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) starting in 1979 and Kol Yisrael (Israel Radio) from 1986. From 2001 to 2007, he was Channel 2's Europe correspondent, later working for the First Channel and then as an international correspondent and commentator for the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

Kutz covered numerous pivotal historical moments worldwide, such as the Tiananmen Square events in China, the fall of the Berlin Wall, revolutions in Eastern Europe, the Yugoslav and Chechen wars, Nelson Mandela's inauguration, the 9/11 attacks, the war in Afghanistan, and the Arab Spring uprisings.

Alongside his journalistic work, Kutz was a scholar of Jewish and Hebrew press and media history. He taught at the University of Paris 8 from 1994, becoming a full professor. He also served as editor of the journal "Koteret" for the history of Jewish and Israeli press and communication at Tel Aviv University and was a research fellow at its Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies. Kutz was president of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in France for five years and later its honorary president, and also served as vice president of the French Cinema Journalists Association, participating in juries at film festivals including Cannes.