Benoit Clair
Encyclopedia
Benoit Clair is a contemporary French journalist
and a published author
.
and law
in University in Paris
and Tours
(France), Benoit Clair began his career as the French Parliament liaison for Remy Montagne, who was deputy of the 3rd district of Louviers
, in the Eure
area. In 1974, Clair was the accredited correspondent for various French media, like Radio France
and Europe 1
. He was one of the first French journalists to cover the war in Lebanon
(1974–1975), with Gabriel Dardaud. Founder of the free radio Paris FM in 1981, which became subsidiary of Europe 1, 3 years later, Benoit Clair was appointed its co-director together with Robert Namias. Located in the Montparnasse Tower, Paris FM changed its name later to “95.2FM”.
One year later, in 1985, the prestigious French publication Paris Match
delegates Benoit Clair as special envoy to The Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
, to observe the training of two CNES French spacemen, members of the 1st Franco-American shuttle crew. A senior writer for Paris Match, Benoit was the first journalist allowed to join the shuttle crew members. He accompanied them 24 hours a day, for the entire training period until their departure for the launch pad at Cape Canaveral
. A series of reports on the training was published in Paris Match in 1985 and 1986. Paris Match sold more than one million copies worldwide covering this major event. Benoit's first book entitled Today, the Sun Rises 16 Times ("[1]") was the outcome of this assignment and was published in September 1985 by publisher Carrère- Lafon. The book covers the space trip of Patrick Baudry
, French payload specialist aboard NASA
’s Space Shuttle Discovery
mission STS-51-G. The book was also followed by an audio CD produced by CBS France in January 1986. The series features the narration of the space trip, written by Benoit Clair, with voice-over by Michel Chevalet from TF1.
Later, Benoit Clair was hired by Aérospatiale
as head of Communication of their Ariane 5
-Hermès space program. In 1988, Benoit was appointed Communications Advisor for the political campaign of Raymond Barre
, presidential election
candidate. After the election, he was retained as director of Communication and Marketing for Europe by the American group AlliedSignal
/Bendix Corporation
, headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey
.
Clair moved to the United States
in 1991, as communication consultant and accredited journalist correspondent of French media entities like Le Figaro
, Prisma-Presse group (VSD
) and RTL
. He was also the permanent correspondent of Radio Monte Carlo
from 1995 to 2007. During his tenure at RMC, he was the producer and host of a daily hit broadcast show, live from Hollywood, California. The show lasted 4 years, from 1996 to 2000. In 2004, Benoit Clair covered the US Presidential Elections
for different French media, like TV5 and published a second book about Senator John Kerry
’s campaign. The book, entitled “John F. Kerry targets The White House” ("[2]"), Pierre Salinger
, the former press secretary of President John F. Kennedy
, wrote the foreword. In 2005, Benoit Clair co-wrote the script, produced and directed the film The Truth about Black Dahlia ("[3]"), commissioned by NBC Universal
for French TV sub-channel “13ème rue”. Using new digital cinematography
cameras, i.e. the RedOne camera from the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company. Benoit Clair is currently producing a series of TV documentaries and high profile HDTV news report videos.
IMAX Canada – USA – Japon – France (La Géode)
• Waiting for Hermès, ("En attendant Hermès") and
• Children of the mine, ("Les enfants de la mine"), 1998: Special Envoy to Peru
TV station FRANCE 2
• Information Mercenaries ("Les mercenaires de l’Info"), 52 min.: Screenplay
TF1 Prime News
• The Truth about Black Dahlia, ("La vérité sur le Black Dahlia"), 52 min., 2007: Screenplay and Director
NBC Universal and 13ème Rue TV (Paris)
• Several other contributions for entities such as TV5MONDE, LCI TV (TF1), LCP-Assemblée Nationale.
• Today, the Sun rises 16 Times ("Aujourd’hui le soleil se lève 16 fois"),
Publisher Carrère-Lafon, 1985.
• John F. Kerry targets the White House ("John F. Kerry : Objectif Maison-Blanche"),
Foreword by Pierre Salinger, Publisher Le Felin, 2004.
• FBI - 100 years ("FBI - 100 ans d'histoire"), in the making.
to be published in 2010.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and a published author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Career
After studying journalismJournalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in University in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
(France), Benoit Clair began his career as the French Parliament liaison for Remy Montagne, who was deputy of the 3rd district of Louviers
Louviers
Louviers is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.Louviers is from Paris and from Rouen.-Population:-Sights:Its church, Notre Dame, has parts which date from the thirteenth century...
, in the Eure
Eure
Eure is a department in the north of France named after the river Eure.- History :Eure is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
area. In 1974, Clair was the accredited correspondent for various French media, like Radio France
Radio France
Radio France is a French public service radio broadcaster.-Mission:Radio France's two principal missions are:* To create and expand the programming on all of their stations; and...
and Europe 1
Europe 1
Europe 1, formerly known as Europe n° 1, is a privately owned radio network created in 1955. It is one of the leading French radio broadcasters and heard throughout France...
. He was one of the first French journalists to cover the war in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
(1974–1975), with Gabriel Dardaud. Founder of the free radio Paris FM in 1981, which became subsidiary of Europe 1, 3 years later, Benoit Clair was appointed its co-director together with Robert Namias. Located in the Montparnasse Tower, Paris FM changed its name later to “95.2FM”.
One year later, in 1985, the prestigious French publication Paris Match
Paris Match
Paris Match is a French weekly magazine. It covers major national and international news along with celebrity lifestyle features. It was founded in 1949 by the industrialist Jean Prouvost....
delegates Benoit Clair as special envoy to The Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, to observe the training of two CNES French spacemen, members of the 1st Franco-American shuttle crew. A senior writer for Paris Match, Benoit was the first journalist allowed to join the shuttle crew members. He accompanied them 24 hours a day, for the entire training period until their departure for the launch pad at Cape Canaveral
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
. A series of reports on the training was published in Paris Match in 1985 and 1986. Paris Match sold more than one million copies worldwide covering this major event. Benoit's first book entitled Today, the Sun Rises 16 Times ("[1]") was the outcome of this assignment and was published in September 1985 by publisher Carrère- Lafon. The book covers the space trip of Patrick Baudry
Patrick Baudry
Patrick Pierre Roger Baudry , is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the French Air Force and a former CNES astronaut...
, French payload specialist aboard NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
’s Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011...
mission STS-51-G. The book was also followed by an audio CD produced by CBS France in January 1986. The series features the narration of the space trip, written by Benoit Clair, with voice-over by Michel Chevalet from TF1.
Later, Benoit Clair was hired by Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
as head of Communication of their Ariane 5
Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
-Hermès space program. In 1988, Benoit was appointed Communications Advisor for the political campaign of Raymond Barre
Raymond Barre
Raymond Octave Joseph Barre was a French centre-right politician and economist. He was a Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs under three Presidents and later served as Prime Minister under Valéry Giscard d'Estaing from 1976 until 1981...
, presidential election
Presidential election
A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is president.- United States :The United States has elections on the state and local levels...
candidate. After the election, he was retained as director of Communication and Marketing for Europe by the American group AlliedSignal
AlliedSignal
AlliedSignal was an aerospace, automotive and engineering company that acquired and merged with Honeywell for $15 billion in 1999, after which the new group adopted the Honeywell name.AlliedSignal was created through a 1985 merger of Allied Corp...
/Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
, headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
.
Clair moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1991, as communication consultant and accredited journalist correspondent of French media entities like Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
, Prisma-Presse group (VSD
VSD (French magazine)
VSD is a French weekly news, celebrity and leisure magazine, published on Thursdays. The name is formed from the first letters of the French names for Friday , Saturday and Sunday ....
) and RTL
RTL (French radio)
In France, RTL is a popular nation-wide commercial radio network owned by the RTL Group.In 1931, Radio Luxembourg, the public radio network from Luxembourg, was privatised. Beginning in 1946, it could be heard easily in France. Until the 1980s, only the French public radio networks could transmit...
. He was also the permanent correspondent of Radio Monte Carlo
Radio Monte Carlo
Radio Monte Carlo is the name of six radio stations owned and managed by three different entities:*RMC Info is a French-speaking station, broadcasting in France and Monaco from Paris with some contributions from Monaco. Radio Monte-Carlo was one of 23 founding broadcasting organisations of the...
from 1995 to 2007. During his tenure at RMC, he was the producer and host of a daily hit broadcast show, live from Hollywood, California. The show lasted 4 years, from 1996 to 2000. In 2004, Benoit Clair covered the US Presidential Elections
2004 presidential election
The 2004 presidential election may refer to:* Afghan presidential election, 2004* Algerian presidential election, 2004* Austrian presidential election, 2004* Dominican Republic presidential election, 2004* Georgia presidential election, 2004...
for different French media, like TV5 and published a second book about Senator John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
’s campaign. The book, entitled “John F. Kerry targets The White House” ("[2]"), Pierre Salinger
Pierre Salinger
Pierre Emil George Salinger was a White House Press Secretary to U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson...
, the former press secretary of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, wrote the foreword. In 2005, Benoit Clair co-wrote the script, produced and directed the film The Truth about Black Dahlia ("[3]"), commissioned by NBC Universal
NBC Universal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company engaged in the production and marketing of entertainment, news, and information products and services to a global customer base...
for French TV sub-channel “13ème rue”. Using new digital cinematography
Digital cinematography
Digital cinematography is the process of capturing motion pictures as digital images, rather than on film. Digital capture may occur on video tape, hard disks, flash memory, or other media which can record digital data. As digital technology has improved, this practice has become increasingly common...
cameras, i.e. the RedOne camera from the Red Digital Cinema Camera Company. Benoit Clair is currently producing a series of TV documentaries and high profile HDTV news report videos.
Films and writings
• The Dream is alive, ("Le rêve est vivant"), 1986: Screenplay and voice-over.IMAX Canada – USA – Japon – France (La Géode)
• Waiting for Hermès, ("En attendant Hermès") and
• Children of the mine, ("Les enfants de la mine"), 1998: Special Envoy to Peru
TV station FRANCE 2
• Information Mercenaries ("Les mercenaires de l’Info"), 52 min.: Screenplay
TF1 Prime News
• The Truth about Black Dahlia, ("La vérité sur le Black Dahlia"), 52 min., 2007: Screenplay and Director
NBC Universal and 13ème Rue TV (Paris)
• Several other contributions for entities such as TV5MONDE, LCI TV (TF1), LCP-Assemblée Nationale.
• Today, the Sun rises 16 Times ("Aujourd’hui le soleil se lève 16 fois"),
Publisher Carrère-Lafon, 1985.
• John F. Kerry targets the White House ("John F. Kerry : Objectif Maison-Blanche"),
Foreword by Pierre Salinger, Publisher Le Felin, 2004.
• FBI - 100 years ("FBI - 100 ans d'histoire"), in the making.
to be published in 2010.
External links
- Paris Match
- John F. Kerry, Le Felin Books
- John F. Kerry by Benoit Clair
- http://www.republique-des-lettres.fr/71-john-kerry.php
- http://www.eko-sphere.com/documents/Le%20glacier%20de%20la%20honte%20-%20la%20rinconada.pdf