By Yasin Gungor
ISTANBUL (AA) – Marion Mertens, a juror for Anadolu's international photojournalism contest, the Istanbul Photo Awards, has passed away after a two-year battle with cancer.
Mertens started her career at Gamma Presse Images and later worked for Le Figaro, L'Express, and VSD.
Mertens worked for the French weekly Paris Match from 1998 to 2021, starting as deputy news editor and progressing to senior digital editor, where she oversaw the magazine's online, tablet, and mobile formats.
Her editorial leadership was critical in covering significant global events such as political campaigns and international crises, striking a balance between large-scale political issues and deeply personal stories.
In June 2024, she showcased her work as a visual storyteller in a personal exhibition, Lumieres De La Vie, in Paris.
Mertens served on the jury for the Istanbul Photo Awards from 2017 to 2024, including five years as chair. Her experience in photojournalism and editorial work helped her select impactful and meaningful photographs for the contest.
Mertens had said in the foreword to the contest's 10th-anniversary photo album that serving on the jury among professionals was always a privilege.