Paul Balta (24 March 1929 â 27 January 2019) was a French journalist and writer.
After attending Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Balta decided to become a journalist. From 1970 to 1985, Balta specialized in the Middle East and Maghreb for Le Monde.Then, from 1987 to 1994, he directed the Center for Contemporary Oriental Studies at the .
Balta died on 27 January 2019.