A Countercurrent in the Age of Short-form : French Mook Journalism and Its Significance

This paper examines the rise and implications of French mook journalism in the context of changes in journalistic forms and the identity of journalists brought about by the proliferation of short-form content and technological developments in the digital environment. Mooks are hybrid media that cross the boundaries between books and magazines. They inherit the tradition of grand reportage and literary storytelling in French journalism while attempting to break away from conventional media through the exclusion of advertising, slow production cycles, and visual experimentation. Based on a qualitative analysis of major French mook cases, this study suggests that mooks restore the journalist’s identity as a “creator of meaning” in an age of information overload and indicate their potential to function as alternative journalism in the AI era.