“François Busnel has just achieved the coup of the year, slips a star journalist of the public service, who would have liked to be in his place.
It is a unique moment in a career.
"The presenter of" La Grande Librairie "on France 5 is the only Frenchman to have interviewed Barack Obama, for the world release, this Tuesday, of the first volume of his memoirs of former President of the United States, entitled" A Promised Land "(" A Promised Land ", Fayard editions).
Prepared discreetly, the meeting of about thirty minutes took place Sunday afternoon in a hotel in Washington and will be broadcast this Tuesday at the end of Anne-Sophie Lapix's diary, on France 2. A exceptional interview, exceptional device: the episode of the day of the soap opera "Un si grand soleil" will be deprogrammed.
“Between François Busnel and Barack Obama, it was a question of literature and in particular of the novelist Toni Morrison, but also of Trump, Sarkozy and, of course, of his record.
There was no taboo, ”says Stéphane Sitbon-Gomez, new head of programs and antennas of France Televisions.
The battle was tough with the competition
Behind the scenes, it was he who won this big exclusivity.
"At the beginning of September, Sophie de Closets
(Editor's note: director of the Fayard publishing house)
contacted me to find out what setting we could put in place to get out of the usual promotion", specifies the right arm of Delphine Ernotte-Cunci.
Another request: that it is not a news or political journalist, but a literary one.
"Barack Obama is a writer before being president," says Sophie de Closets.
This immediately ruled out the option Thomas Sotto and Léa Salamé, the Mister Madame of the public service policy.
“The Obamas have always locked their communications,” says a specialist in the United States.
We've already seen that for Michelle.
"
The choice therefore naturally fell on François Busnel, who has presented "La Grande Librairie" since 2008 and launched the America magazine four years ago.
Another advantage is that he speaks perfect English.
It remained to find the right format.
A special "La Grande Librairie"?
This track was retoquée by the American communication.
To make more events, France Télévisions then offers an interview broadcast after 8:00 pm, strategic crossroads of audience.
The deal was concluded at the end of October, discreetly and "without any questions having been sent in advance".
According to our information, the battle has been tough with the competition, in particular France Inter and TF1.
Until the last moment, the magazine "Seven to Eight", presented by Harry Roselmack, believed in its chances.
The production even dreamed of making it the portrait of the week worn by journalist Audrey Crespo-Mara.
This was before France Télévisions released the Busnel card, a great asset.
“He was fantastic, very comfortable,” assures Sophie de Closets.