Focus

PARIS MATCH : PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT THROUGH “APPEL DE LA TERRE”

Ten months before COP21, Paris Match’s editorial staff set itself a challenge: to move from being journalists merely observing on the sidelines to being militant activists.

The result was the “Appel de la terre” initiative, which involved 180 pages in Paris Match magazine, a Facebook page, hundreds of articles on our website and interviews with a number of leading environmental commentators and campaigners. By combining photos, expert reports, graphics and statistics, we sought to educate our readership by taking a positive approach to the subject. The highlight was “Ma terre en photos”, a major photography project in which amateur and professional photographers all around the world were invited to post their photos on a dedicated website, that gave rise to a “white book” of photos.

Our editorial carried a clear message: “Look closely at the images on the following pages: behind each one stands a citizen of the world who is reaching out to you.” I will never forget the emotional expression of Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, when he looked through the book: he was fascinated by the power of the images and the community spirit that the project represented. The project proved that photography, more than ever, is the only real universal language.