{
  "id": 4781536,
  "title": "France’s international photojournalism festival founder Leroy dies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/frances-international-photojournalism-festival-founder-leroy-dies",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-01T03:42:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/01/france-s-international-photojournalism-festival-founder-leroy-dies"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jean-François Leroy, the founder of the international photojournalism festival Visa pour l'Image, passed away on Monday at the age of 69. The cancer-stricken director had been at the helm for the 38th edition of the prestigious event, currently underway in the southern French city of Perpignan. The organization shared the devastating news on Instagram, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of the historic director and founder. The festival's Instagram post highlighted Leroy's commitment to showcasing photojournalists from around the globe. This marked the first time in 38 years that the 69-year-old was absent from the opening ceremony of the world's sole festival dedicated to press photography, which annually highlights the work of leading photojournalists. Despite his terminal illness, Leroy participated in every aspect of the 38th edition's preparations, as confirmed by Delphine Lelu, the managing director, in a conversation with AFP.",
  "summary": "Jean-François Leroy died of cancer at age 69 as the 38th edition of the Visa pour l'Image festival launched in Perpignan.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RFI English",
        "title": "France's international photojournalism festival founder Leroy dies aged 69",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/frances-international-photojournalism-festival-founder-leroy-dies",
        "published": "2026-08-31T15:23:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Jean-François Leroy, director of the Visa pour l'Image photojournalism festival, has died",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/jean-francois-leroy-director-of-the-visa-pour-limage-photojournalism",
        "published": "2026-08-31T16:15:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "France’s international photojournalism festival founder Leroy dies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/frances-international-photojournalism-festival-founder-leroy-dies-4782690",
        "published": "2026-09-01T03:42:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}