Jacqueline Hélène Baudrier was a French radio and television journalist, UNESCO ambassador and in 1975 became President-General Director of Radio France.
Baudrier began her career at Radio Guadaloupe in 1948 before moving to RTF in 1950. From 1950 to 1960, she held numerous posts in print, radio and television for RTF. As a foreign policy columnist for the Spoken Newspapers, she became known as a voice of French radio on "News from Paris" to "Paris Inter," which became "France Inter." Later as a television journalist, she presented the news on France Inter. From that time on, she assumed positions of increasing responsibility in journalism.
According to one biography, while working at Radio France she improved the status of women by "contributing to the presence of 42 percent of women in Radio France, including key positions… the orchestras of Radio France stand out with 31 percent women."
Debate moderator
In 1974, she was one of two moderators of the first nationally televised debate between two presidential candidates during the final round of a national election. Her co-host was journalist Alain Duhamel. Baudrier called it a "great event without precedent on French television." At the time, the two candidates were tied in popular polling; Valéry Giscard d'Estaing later won that election.
Television producer
Baudrier was listed as a producer for episodes in French of Le Troisième Oeil, the short documentary film Jeanne raconte Jeanne and parts of the television seriesLe grand échiquier.
Notable positions
President-General Director of Radio France
Member of the High Committee on the French Language
UNESCO Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of France and Member of the Executive Board
Member of the National Commission for Communication and Freedoms, the French audiovisual regulator
Vice president of the French National Commission for UNESCO
Personal life
Baudrier studied history at the Sorbonne in Paris. She was married first to Maurice Baudrier and then to journalist Roger Perriard. She was also known as Jacqueline Baudrier-Perriard. She died in Paris in 2 April 2009 at the age of 87.
Honors and distinctions
This list includes some of Baudrier's honors and awards.