Autism awareness day: do you know the Papotin, an atypical newspaper?

You may have seen or heard of Papotin meetingsa broadcast of France Televisions carried out by the atypical team of Papotin. Emmanuel Macron, Virginie Efira, Julien Doré… answered spontaneous, unusual and funny questions for 30 minutes from journalists with autism spectrum disorders. For 33 years, the newspaper The Papotin publishes once a year meetings with many personalities such as Jacques Chirac, Vincent Cassel, Anne Hidalgo, Barbara, but also articles or reports.

Meeting with Julien Bancilhon, editor-in-chief of Papotin

Julien Bancilhon, psychologist at the Antony day hospital where the newspaper was born, is the editor-in-chief of the Papotin. We interviewed him.

Santé magazine: How do you prepare the newspaper?

Julien Bancilhon: We meet every Wednesday, to exchange, discuss, write texts, plan interviews, draw… It’s very collective since the editorial board has 50 to 60 people.

Is it a tool for inclusion or care?

J. B. : The newspaper and its program, Les Rencontres du Papotin, on France Télévisions, participate in the inclusion, it is a certainty. It is not a therapy because the therapeutic discourse tends to prevent the opening towards the outside. In the Papotin, I’m not a psychologist, I want to make a real diary. There is a wealth that deserves to be circulated.

What are your projects ?

J. B. : We would like to publish two issues a year and produce more reports, more meetings. And above all, be ourselves!