Albert Londres was a French investigative journalist and writer, who stimulated great debate and social change in France, as a result of his numerous exposé articles on emotive topics. The Albert Londres Prize is named after him, and is awarded annually to the best French journalist.
Londres first came to prominence with his investigation into the conditions in the French 'bagnards' (forced labour camps) in Guyana, notably that located at Ile du Salut. Horrified by what he saw, he brought the situation to the attention of the public in his book 'Au Bagne' which lead to the long process of shutting down forced labour camps in Guyana.
Other notable investigations included that into the Tour de France, where he lamented the inhumane physical exertions the Tour had come to demand of its participants, and his investigation into the treatment of the mentally ill in the country where he denounced the system: 'notre devoir n'est pas de nous débarrasser du fou, mais de débarrasser le fou de sa folie' (our duty is not to rid ourselves of the mad, but to rid the mad of their madness).
