# Hugo Clément

Hugo Clément (born 7 October 1989) is a French journalist, author, and documentary filmmaker. He is best known for his work in investigative journalism and environmental advocacy.

## Early life

Born in Strasbourg, Clément grew up in a suburb of Toulouse. His parents were university professors. He attended Lycée Bellevue in Toulouse, earning his Baccalauréat, and later joined a Hypokhâgne preparatory class at Lycée Rive Gauche.
In 2008, he entered Sciences Po Toulouse, and started working as a freelance journalist for La Dépêche du Midi and 20 Minutes. In 2010, he joined the Lille School of Journalism (École supérieure de journalisme de Lille) and graduated in 2012. During his studies, he received the Jean d'Arcy bursary, which included a contract with France 2.

## Career

Clément began his career at France 2, covering major events such as the 2014 fire at Maison de la Radio, the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and the Brétigny-sur-Orge train crash.
In 2015, he joined Le Petit Journal on Canal+, later moving to Quotidien on TMC alongside Yann Barthès. His reporting style, often direct and investigative, gained attention. In 2016, he questioned Jean-Yves Le Drian, then Minister of Armed Forces, about holding both a ministerial role and the presidency of Brittany's regional council. Le Drian accused Le Petit Journal of filming his residence, which Clément denied, stating that only security personnel were filmed as part of a Vigipirate report. In 2017, Clément left Quotidien to join Konbini, where he focused on political and environmental reporting. In 2019, he returned to France 2 as part of a broader initiative to expand the network's digital news coverage.
In 2023, he launched Vakita, a digital media platform covering environmental and social issues, backed by Groupe Artémis and Mediawan.

## Positions and public engagement

Clément is an advocate for environmental and animal rights issues. He has produced documentaries on climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution.
In April 2023, he participated in the Grand débat des valeurs, hosted by the conservative magazine Valeurs actuelles, alongside Jordan Bardella of the Rassemblement National (RN). His participation drew criticism from left-wing and environmentalist figures, who accused him of legitimising far-right media. Clément defended his decision, stating that environmental issues should be debated across the political spectrum.
In July 2024, he signed an online petition for the release of Paul Watson, arrested by the Danish police in Greenland following a 2012 Interpol red notice.

## Controversies
### Conflicts of interests

Among the people who participated in financing his media Vakita is the group Artémis founded by François Pinault but also Mediawan (whose founders are Pierre-Antoine Capton, Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse).

### Anne-Yvonne Le Dain

In February 2024, a controversy broke out between Hugo Clément and former MP Anne-Yvonne Le Dain. This last photograph a golden retriever without muzzle in the train she takes, also denouncing the «laissez-aller of the SNCF». Indeed, dogs over 6 kg must be kept on a leash, muzzled, and remain at the foot of the owner during the journey.

### Documentary on fishing

In a documentary from the series On the Front, he interviews CNRS scientist Dirk Schmeller about invasive species, especially rainbow trout. The CNRS has disavowed the report by calling it a «simulacrum of investigation».

## Works

* Clément, Hugo (2019). Comment j'ai arrêté de manger les animaux. Paris: Éditions du Seuil. ISBN 978-2-02-141759-3.
* Clément, Hugo (2020). Journal de guerre écologique. Paris: Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-71703-6.
* Clément, Hugo (2022). Les lapins ne mangent pas de carottes. Paris: Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-71712-8.
* Clément, Hugo; Mermoux, Dominique; Ravalec, Vincent (2023). Le théorème du Vaquita. Paris: Fayad Graffik. ISBN 978-2-213-72584-0.

## Personal life

Clement has a child with 2006 French beauty pageant titleholder Alexandra Rosenfeld.