L'Humanité
Encyclopedia
L'Humanité formerly the daily newspaper linked to the French Communist Party
(PCF), was founded in 1904 by Jean Jaurès
, a leader of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO). The paper is now independent, although it maintains close links to the PCF.
, the Communists retained control of L'Humanité and the PCF has published it ever since. The PCF owns 40 per cent of the paper with the remaining shares held by staff, readers and "friends" of the paper. The paper is also sustained by the annual Fête de l'Humanité, held in the working class suburbs of Paris
, at Le Bourget
, near Aubervilliers
, and to a lesser extent elsewhere in the country.
The fortunes of L'Humanité have fluctuated with those of the PCF. During the 1920s, when the PCF was politically isolated, it was kept in existence only by donations from Party members.
Louis Aragon
started to write for L'Humanité in 1933, in the "news in brief" section. He later led Les Lettres françaises, the 's weekly literary supplement. With the formation of the Popular Front
in 1936, L'Humanité 's circulation and status increased, and many leading French intellectuals wrote for it.
L'Humanité was banned during World War II but published clandestinely until liberation of Paris
from German occupation.
, which took over large sections of PCF support, and circulation and economic viability of L'Humanité have declined as well.
Until 1990 the PCF and L'Humanité received regular subsidies from the Soviet Union
. According to the French authors Victor Loupan and Pierre Lorrain (fr), L'Humanité received free newsprint from Soviet sources.
Its circulation, more than 500,000 after the war, slumped to under 70,000. In 2001, after a decade of financial decline, the PCF sold 20 per cent of the paper to a group of private investors led by the TV channel TF1
(part of the Bouygues
group) and including Hachette
(Lagardère Group
). TF1 said its motive was "maintenance of media diversity." Despite the irony of a communist newspaper being rescued by private capital, some of which supported right-wing politics
, L'Humanité director Patrick Le Hyaric
described the sale as "a matter of life or death."
There has been speculation since 2001 that L'Humanité will cease as a daily newspaper. But in contrast to most French newspapers, its publication has increased, to about 75,000.
L'Humanité (official website) L'Humanité in English (see also here about voluntary team translating articles) L'Humanité на русском языке L'Humanité en Español Regular French Press Review – Radio France International L'Humanité's digital archives from 1904 to 1944 – Gallica, the digital library of the BnF
(archived issues themselves are in French) "Our Goal", translation of Jean Jaurès
' editorial of the first issue
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
(PCF), was founded in 1904 by Jean Jaurès
Jean Jaurès
Jean Léon Jaurès was a French Socialist leader. Initially an Opportunist Republican, he evolved into one of the first social democrats, becoming the leader, in 1902, of the French Socialist Party, which opposed Jules Guesde's revolutionary Socialist Party of France. Both parties merged in 1905 in...
, a leader of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO). The paper is now independent, although it maintains close links to the PCF.
Pre-World War II
When the Socialists split at the 1920 Tours CongressTours Congress
The Tours Congress was the 18th National Congress of the French Section of the Workers' International, or SFIO, which took place in Tours on 25—30 December 1920...
, the Communists retained control of L'Humanité and the PCF has published it ever since. The PCF owns 40 per cent of the paper with the remaining shares held by staff, readers and "friends" of the paper. The paper is also sustained by the annual Fête de l'Humanité, held in the working class suburbs of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, at Le Bourget
Le Bourget
Le Bourget is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.A very small part of Le Bourget airport lies on the territory of the commune of Le Bourget, which nonetheless gave its name to the airport. Most of the airport lies on the territory of the...
, near Aubervilliers
Aubervilliers
Aubervilliers is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Name:In medieval times the name Aubervilliers was recorded as Alberti Villare, meaning "estate of Adalbert"...
, and to a lesser extent elsewhere in the country.
The fortunes of L'Humanité have fluctuated with those of the PCF. During the 1920s, when the PCF was politically isolated, it was kept in existence only by donations from Party members.
Louis Aragon
Louis Aragon
Louis Aragon , was a French poet, novelist and editor, a long-time member of the Communist Party and a member of the Académie Goncourt.- Early life :...
started to write for L'Humanité in 1933, in the "news in brief" section. He later led Les Lettres françaises, the 's weekly literary supplement. With the formation of the Popular Front
Popular Front (France)
The Popular Front was an alliance of left-wing movements, including the French Communist Party , the French Section of the Workers' International and the Radical and Socialist Party, during the interwar period...
in 1936, L'Humanité 's circulation and status increased, and many leading French intellectuals wrote for it.
L'Humanité was banned during World War II but published clandestinely until liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
from German occupation.
After World War II
Its status was highest in the years after the war: during the late 1940s, the 1950s, the 1960s, the PCF was the dominant party of the French left. L'Humanité enjoyed a large circulation. Since the 1980s, however, the PCF has been in decline, mostly due to the rise of the Socialist PartySocialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
, which took over large sections of PCF support, and circulation and economic viability of L'Humanité have declined as well.
Until 1990 the PCF and L'Humanité received regular subsidies from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. According to the French authors Victor Loupan and Pierre Lorrain (fr), L'Humanité received free newsprint from Soviet sources.
Post-Soviet Union
The fall of the Soviet Union and the continued decline of the PCF's electoral base produced a crisis for L'Humanité.Its circulation, more than 500,000 after the war, slumped to under 70,000. In 2001, after a decade of financial decline, the PCF sold 20 per cent of the paper to a group of private investors led by the TV channel TF1
TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
(part of the Bouygues
Bouygues
Bouygues S.A. is a French industrial group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Bouygues is listed on Euronext Paris exchange and is a blue chip in the CAC 40 stock market index. The company was founded in 1952 by Francis Bouygues and since 1989 has been led by his son Martin...
group) and including Hachette
Hachette (publishing)
Hachette Livre, , is a French publisher, the flagship imprint of Lagardère Publishing. It was founded in 1826 by Louis Hachette as a bookshop and publishing company. Hachette has its headquarters in the 15th arrondissement of Paris....
(Lagardère Group
Lagardère Group
Lagardère is a French-based multinational conglomerate headquartered in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The group once covered a broad range of industries but is now largely focused on the media sector, in which it is one of the world’s leading companies...
). TF1 said its motive was "maintenance of media diversity." Despite the irony of a communist newspaper being rescued by private capital, some of which supported right-wing politics
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
, L'Humanité director Patrick Le Hyaric
Patrick Le Hyaric
Patrick Le Hyaric is a French journalist, politician and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the Île-de-France constituency...
described the sale as "a matter of life or death."
There has been speculation since 2001 that L'Humanité will cease as a daily newspaper. But in contrast to most French newspapers, its publication has increased, to about 75,000.
After 2001
In 2006, the paper created a weekly edition, L'Humanité dimanche. In 2008, it sold its headquarters due to financial problems and called for donations. More than €2 million had been donated by the end of 2008.External links
Fête de l'Humanité: A weekend of politics and Rock'n'Roll – Radio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
L'Humanité (official website) L'Humanité in English (see also here about voluntary team translating articles) L'Humanité на русском языке L'Humanité en Español Regular French Press Review – Radio France International L'Humanité's digital archives from 1904 to 1944 – Gallica, the digital library of the BnF
BNF
BNF may stand for:In science:*Biological nitrogen fixation, a process that converts nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia*British National Formulary, the standard drug reference manual**British National Formulary for Children...
(archived issues themselves are in French) "Our Goal", translation of Jean Jaurès
Jean Jaurès
Jean Léon Jaurès was a French Socialist leader. Initially an Opportunist Republican, he evolved into one of the first social democrats, becoming the leader, in 1902, of the French Socialist Party, which opposed Jules Guesde's revolutionary Socialist Party of France. Both parties merged in 1905 in...
' editorial of the first issue
Further reading
- Victor Loupan and Pierre Lorrain: L'Argent de Moscou. L'histoire la plus secrete du PCF, Paris, 1994