2001 Infinity Award: Lifetime Achievement

Roger Therond has been one of the most influential photographic editors and collectors of the latter half of the 20th century. Primarily associated with Paris Match, he is credited with single-handedly shaping French photojournalism and European journalism at large. 

Therond was born in Sète, France, where he attended college before becoming a graduate of the Faculty of Letters in Montpellier. He worked as a reporter from 1945 to 1950 for such publications as L’Ecran Français and Samedi Soir. In 1950, he joined Paris Match, where he served as editor-in-chief, editorial director, and general director. He has also worked with Publications Filipacchi, Photo, L’Express, and Hachette Filipacchi Group Press.

Therond has helped start the careers of many young photojournalists, whose work he often published for the first time. His discoveries include Alexandra Boulat and Luc Delahaye. After retiring, Therond pursued collecting and writing. He published his book, Une passion française: Images from the Roger Therond Collection, in 1999.