Wikipedia

Patrick Cohen

Patrick Cohen (born 7 September 1962) is a French journalist, radio host, television presenter, columnist, and editorial writer.

Patrick Cohen
Born (1962-09-07) 7 September 1962 (age 63)
Paris, France
EducationÉcole supérieure de journalisme de Lille
Alma materPierre-Mendès-France Tolbiac University Center (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University)
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • radio host
  • television presenter
  • columnist
  • editorial writer
SpouseAlexandra Cooren
Children3

He is known for having hosted the 7/9 program on France Inter between 2010 and 2017. He also worked at Europe 1 from 2017 to 2021. He returned to Radio France in August 2021 to host L'Esprit public on France Culture. He left Radio France in September 2023. Starting in September 2024, he serves as a political editorialist on France Inter’s morning show.

On television, he has been a columnist on France 5’s C à vous since 2011 and a presenter on LCP - Assemblée nationale since 2018.

Early life and education

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Patrick Cohen was born on 7 September 1962,[1] in Paris, France,[2] to a Moroccan family;[3] his father was an engineer and owner of a small metalworking business, and his mother was a homemaker.[2] He also has two Sicilian grandparents.[4] His father is Catholic and the son of a Jewish father, and his mother is also Catholic.[5]

He grew up in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, where he earned his scientific baccalaureate at age 16.[2] After failing the entrance exam for Sciences Po,[6] he earned a master’s degree in law and a diploma from the Lille School of Journalism (French: École supérieure de journalisme de Lille).[7] At the Pierre-Mendès-France Tolbiac University Center (Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University), he was active in the Union Nationale des Étudiants de France (UNEF) student union.[8] He performed his military service at the 114th Air Base in Aix-Les-Milles, but he managed to be discharged after one month.[4]

Career

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Cohen began his career in radio by working as a reporter, and then as a host and deputy editor-in-chief at RFO Guyane and Radio France Internationale,[7] and also worked on the editorial staff at France Info.[9]

1994–2007: RTL

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In 1994, Cohen joined the editorial staff at RTL.[9] There, he presented news bulletins, produced reports, and later hosted the call-in show Les auditeurs ont la parole.

In 1998, he joined the station’s political desk, notably to cover the 2002 French presidential election[7] and to host the Sunday interview show Le Grand Jury starting in 2001.

From August 2005 to June 2006, he hosted the morning show RTL Matin for almost a year.[10] Starting in September 2006, he resumed hosting the news program RTL Soir, as its presenter, Hervé Beroud, became the station's editorial director.[11]

2007–2010: France Inter, Canal+, and Europe 1

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In September 2007, after thirteen years at RTL, Cohen joined the editorial team at France Inter as editor-in-chief of the morning news program and host of the 8 o'clock news on Nicolas Demorand's 7/10.[12][13] He remained at the station for only nearly a year, leaving in June 2008.[9]

Cohen also made his television debut in 2007 on Pascale Clark's Un café, l'addition, which aired on Canal+.[7]

In August 2008, Cohen joined the station Europe 1 to co-host Europe 1 Soir with Marie Drucker.[14][9] He also appeared on the Sunday interview show Le Grand Rendez-vous,[7] and also served as the substitute for Marc-Olivier Fogiel on the morning show during the 2008–2009 season.

In August 2009, Cohen took over sole hosting duties for Europe 1 Soir, while Drucker went on to host a weekly current affairs analysis program.[7]

2010–2017: Return to France Inter

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In September 2010, following Nicolas Demorand’s departure from the station’s morning show, Cohen returned to France Inter to host Le sept neuf, with the goal of "further enhancing its liveliness and responsiveness", according to Philippe Val, the director of France Inter.[15][16] On 10 May 2017, Cohen announced his resignation from France Inter to rejoin Europe 1 in the fall of 2017.[17]

Mediapart called Cohen's management practices into question in a February 2025 article that compiled testimonies describing aggressive management between 2010 and 2017. Nineteen anonymous testimonies from Radio France employees denounce a management style deemed "anxiety-inducing, toxic, and stressful", marked by "scathing remarks", "harsh" criticism, and intense professional pressure. Some former employees describe repeated humiliations and psychological distress at work.[18]

2011–present: France 5

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In August 2011, Cohen joined the team of the show C à vous, hosted by Anne-Élisabeth Lemoine (formerly hosted by Alessandra Sublet and Anne-Sophie Lapix) on France 5, succeeding Nicolas Poincaré and Thierry Dugeon.[19]

On 11 January 2015, Cohen was a co-host with Anne-Sophie Lapix and Nagui Fam for a benefit event for Charlie Hebdo, titled Je suis Charlie, on France 2, France Inter, France Culture, France Bleu, TV5 Monde, and the RTBF.[20]

2017–2021: Return to Europe 1

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Cohen's return to Europe 1 was a major and highly anticipated presenter move in 2017, as he succeeded Thomas Sotto on the station's morning show, which he renamed Europe Matin, while also becoming the station's deputy director; though, despite his anticipated return, he failed to reverse a sharp decline in ratings that had been underway since 2016.[21] According to Le Figaro, Cohen's morning show was driving away the most conservative listeners and had failed to attract those from France Inter.[22]

On 4 June 2018, Cohen was removed from Europe 1's morning show, with Nikos Aliagas taking over the news segment when the new season began,[23] but despite this, starting in September 2018, Cohen was given David Abiker‘s time slot to host the shows C'est arrivé cette semaine and C'est arrivé demain, on Saturday and Sunday mornings.[24] Starting in the fall of 2020, he hosted the station's midday news.[25]

On 30 June 2021, Cohen joined speakers outside the Europe 1 headquarters during a rally organized by an inter-union coalition (Syndicat national des journalistes CGT (SNJ-CGT) - CFTC - FO) and the Europe 1 Editors’ Association to denounce Vincent Bolloré’s "growing influence" in the media, saying: "The model that is winning out today... is one that seeks not to produce information and knowledge, nor social cohesion... but rather to create controversies and divisions, to pit one part of France against another, even through calls for hatred—this has been ruled on by the courts."[26] Cohen announced his departure from Europe 1 the month after, in July 2021.[27]

2018–present: LCP - Assemblée nationale

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Since 4 November 2018, Cohen has been hosting the show Rembob'INA, which features archival footage from French television while inviting key figures from that era to comment on it. Meanwhile, Agnès Chauveau, deputy director of the Institut national de l'audiovisuel, who is a media specialist and historian by training, and Richard Poirot, editorial coordinator at the INA, provide context and discuss the criticism raised at the time of their original broadcasts.[28]

2020–2024: France 2, return to Radio France, and second return to France Inter

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At the start of the 2021 season, Cohen returned to Radio France to host the program L'Esprit public on France Culture.[29]

On 26 May 2023, two years after his return, Cohen announced he was leaving Radio France in September 2023,[30] disappointed that he would not be returning to host the morning show on France Info in the fall of 2023, as had been planned. On the other hand, the prospect of competition between the morning shows on France Inter and France Info convinced management not to appoint Cohen, which prompted his departure.[31]

In July 2024, it was announced that he would return to France Inter to host the morning show’s political commentary segment starting in September.[32] The ousting of Yaël Goosz from France Inter’s morning show–a casualty of Patrick Cohen’s much-anticipated return–led to a vote of no confidence by the editorial staff against Adèle Van Reeth on 11 July.[33][34][35]

Personal life

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Cohen is married to journalist Alexandra Cooren,[36] with whom he has three children: two sons, Bastien and Aurélien, and a daughter, Juliette.[6][37]

Awards

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In 2016, Cohen was named Host of the Year by GQ France.[38]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ↑ "BnF Catalogue général - Cohen, Patrick (1962-.... ; journaliste)". catalogue.bnf.fr. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Patrick Cohen : The Voice". TéléObs. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  3. ↑ Laurent Telo (20 February 2015). "Patrick Cohen - Arthur : brouille fiscale sur les ondes". M le Magazine du Monde. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Patrick Cohen : « Je suis un grand brûlé de la présidentielle de 2002 »". LeMonde.fr. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  5. ↑ Dominique Perrin (28 August 2020). "Patrick Cohen, le retour de bonnes ondes". Le Monde. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Portait : Patrick Cohen, l'homme aux 3,6 millions d'auditeurs". TéléObs. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biographie de Patrick Cohen". radiofrance.fr. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  8. ↑ Ariane Chemin (26 November 2011). "L'amphi N de Tolbiac, pouponnière d'une génération de tribuns". Le Monde. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Marie Drucker et Patrick Cohen au 18/20 d'Europe 1". UnWeb. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  10. ↑ Julien Mielcarek (26 August 2005). "RTL: Changes in the news segments". Ozap. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  11. ↑ Julien Lalande (5 June 2006). "RTL: Hondelatte at the helm of an expanded morning show". Ozap. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Julien Bellver (6 September 2007). "Patrick Cohen, France Inter: "The morning show is where the heart of major general-interest radio stations beats"". Ozap. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  13. ↑ Véronique Brocard (22 December 2007). "La nuit à France Inter". Télérama. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "Journalists Marie Drucker and Patrick Cohen will host the 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Europe 1 starting in the fall". Télé Satellite. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  15. ↑ "Philippe Val justifie le renvoi de Stéphane Guillon et Didier Porte". Le Monde. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  16. ↑ Jean-Marie Durand (22 May 2011). "Patrick Cohen, la bonne surprise de la matinale d'Inter". Les Inrocks. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  17. ↑ "Patrick Cohen quitte France Inter pour Europe 1, remplacé par Salamé et Demorand". ozap.com. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  18. ↑ Yunnes Abzouz (3 February 2025). "À France Inter, le comportement passé de Patrick Cohen fait surface". Mediapart. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
  19. ↑ Émilie Perez (21 July 2011). "Patrick Cohen remplace Thierry Dugeon dans C à vous". programme-tv.net. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  20. ↑ "VIDEO - Je suis Charlie (France 2) : Les larmes de Nagui". programme-television.org. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  21. ↑ Benoît Daragon (16 November 2017). "Radio ratings: listeners did not follow Europe 1". leparisien.fr. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "Radio audience: RTL and France Inter pull ahead, Europe 1 falls behind". Le Figaro. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Shake-up in sight for Europe 1's morning show". ozap.com. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "Europe 1: Patrick Cohen will bounce back well on the weekend". ozap.com. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  25. ↑ Michaël Zoltobroda (15 July 2020). "Europe 1: Patrick Cohen returns to daily programming". leparisien.fr. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  26. ↑ Gilles Bruno (30 June 2021). "Patrick Cohen: "The model that is winning out today is one that seeks not to produce information and knowledge, nor social cohesion, but rather to create controversies and divisions."". L'Observatoire des médias. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  27. ↑ AFP (5 July 2021). "Patrick Cohen also announces his departure from Europe 1". LePoint.fr. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "With "Rembob'Ina", LCP rewinds Dad's TV". Télérama.fr. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  29. ↑ "Stripped of his morning show on France Info, Patrick Cohen leaves Radio France". 20minutes.fr. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  30. ↑ "No morning show on France Info, Patrick Cohen leaves Radio France". Le Figaro. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  31. ↑ "Patrick Cohen leaves Radio France after being approached and then passed over to host France Info's morning show". Le Monde.fr. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  32. ↑ "Patrick Cohen returns to the morning show as political commentator". Le Parisien. 10 July 2024.
  33. ↑ Franque, Adrien. ""Unprecedented brutality in management": Motion of no confidence at France Inter against director Adèle Van Reeth". Libération (in French). Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  34. ↑ "Adèle Van Reeth, director of France Inter, targeted by a no-confidence motion from the editorial staff" (in French). Le Monde.fr. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  35. ↑ "At France Inter, no-confidence motion against the director following this choice for the morning show". The HuffPost (in French). 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  36. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE VIDEO – Patrick Cohen: His Declaration of Love to His Wife Alexandra - Gala". Gala.fr. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  37. ↑ "Patrick Cohen : qui sont ses trois enfants nés de deux union différentes ?". Voici.fr. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  38. ↑ "The 2016 Men of the Year Awards", GQ France, archived from the original on 8 November 2016, retrieved 24 March 2026
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