Aurelien Breeden

I am a reporter for The New York Times in Paris, covering news from France.

What I Cover

I write about all kinds of news that comes out of France: new government policies, consequential political races, social protests, high-profile court cases, cultural trends, natural or man-made disasters, and more. I’ve followed two presidential elections, covered the fallout of the worst terrorist attacks to hit the country, written about the tumultuous Yellow Vest movement and anger over pension reform, and reported on the fire that tore through Notre Dame cathedral.

Much of my coverage is driven by breaking news: what is happening in France today or this week, and what does it mean? But I also try to take a step back for stories that take a broader look at people and places that say something about France and the French people, whether it’s the prime minister or a rapper, a university confronting a Nazi past or a prison where inmates award a book prize.

My Background

I joined The Times’s Paris bureau in 2014, after graduating from Sciences Po university in Paris with a dual master’s degree in journalism and international affairs. I have dual Franco-American citizenship and grew up a Foreign Service brat before settling in the French capital, where I live with my wife and two daughters. I also teach an eight-week writing and reporting workshop at Sciences Po.

Journalistic Ethics

Like all Times journalists, I am committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I strive to be as fair and accurate as possible, to explain the challenges faced by France and not shy away from difficult questions, while also conveying to an international audience how cultural perceptions and social norms might be different here. I do not participate in any political causes in France, I identify myself as a Times reporter when on assignment, and The Times covers all expenses when I travel.

• Email: aurelien.breeden@nytimes.com

• X: @aurelienbrd

• Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips