Le Monde
Encyclopedia
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper
owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris
. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry
on 19 December 1944. It was founded at the request of General Charles de Gaulle
after the German army was driven from Paris during World War II
, and took over the headquarters and layout of Le Temps
, which was the most important newspaper in France before but whose reputation had suffered during the Occupation. Beuve-Méry reportedly demanded total editorial independence
as the condition for his taking on the project.
Le Monde is the principal publication of La Vie-Le Monde Group. It should not be confused with the monthly publication Le Monde diplomatique
, of which Le Monde has 51% ownership, but which is editorially independent. It reports an average circulation
of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009, about 40,000 of which are sold abroad. It has been available on the Internet since 19 December 1995, and is often the only French newspaper easily obtainable in non-French-speaking countries. Its current chief editor (rédacteur en chef) is Erik Izraelewicz. Plantu is one of several political cartoonists who contribute to the paper, and his work is often featured on the front page above the fold
.
In the 1990s and 2000s, La Vie-Le Monde Group expanded under editor Jean-Marie Colombani
with a number of acquisitions. However, its profitability was not sufficient to cover the large debt loads it took on to fund this expansion, and it has sought new investors in 2010 to keep the company out of bankruptcy
. It has been suggested that a condition for a bailout might be the loss of Le Mondes famous control by its own journalists. In June 2010, investors Matthieu Pigasse, Pierre Bergé
, and Xavier Niel
acquired a controlling stake in the newspaper. In December, it was reported that after conflicts with the new investors, board chairman
and director of publication Éric Fottorino would depart.
. In 1981, it backed the election of Socialist
François Mitterrand
on the grounds that alternation of the political party in government would be beneficial to the country. The paper endorsed Ségolène Royal
, the Socialist candidate, in the 2007 presidential election.
The paper's journalistic side has a collegial form of organization, in which most journalists are not only tenured, but financial stakeholders in the enterprise as well, and participate in the elections of upper management and senior executives. In contrast to other world newspapers such as The New York Times
, Le Monde was traditionally focused on offering analysis and opinion, as opposed to being a newspaper of record. Hence, it was considered less important for the paper to cover "all the news that's fit to print" (the motto of The New York Times) than to offer thoughtful interpretation of current events. Writers of lead reporting articles did not hesitate to provide commentary or venture predictions. In recent years, however, the paper has established a greater distinction between fact and opinion.
investigators, Le Monde (KGB codename VESTNIK, "messenger") was KGB
's key outlet for spreading anti-American and pro-Soviet disinformation
to the French media. The archive identified two senior Le Monde journalists and several contributors who were used in the operations (See also Russian influence operations in France).
Michel Legris wrote in 1976 "Le monde tel qu'il est". According to this former journalist of Le Monde, the journal minimized the atrocities committed by the Cambodian Khmer Rouge.
In their 2003 book titled La face cachée du Monde ("The hidden face of Le Monde"), authors Pierre Péan
and Philippe Cohen alleged that Colombani and then-editor Edwy Plenel had shown, amongst other things, partisan
bias
and had engaged in financial dealings that compromised the paper's independence. It also accused the paper of dangerously damaging the authority of the French state by having revealed various political scandals (notably corruption scandals surrounding Jacques Chirac
, the "Irish of Vincennes" affair, and the sinking of a Greenpeace boat, the Rainbow Warrior
, by French intelligence under President François Mitterrand
). In one chapter, the authors of the book accused Colombani and Plenel of "xenophilia" and of "not liking France". This book remains controversial, but attracted much attention and media coverage in France and around the world at the time of its publication. Following a lawsuit, the authors and the publisher agreed in 2004 not to proceed to any reprinting.
Le Monde has been found guilty of defamation for saying that Catalan soccer club FC Barcelona was connected to a doctor involved in steroid use. The court fined the newspaper nearly $450,000 and the French newspaper will have to publish a copy of the court's sentence in both its newspaper and online versions.
. In 1995, on the 10th anniversary of this failed secret operation, the newspaper directly implicated François Mitterrand
, who was president at the time, in the operation.
In December 2006, on the 60th anniversary of its publishing début, the journal moved into new headquarters at n°80, Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui
.
The building—formerly the headquarters of Air France
—was refashioned by Bouygues
from the designs of Christian de Portzamparc
. The building's façade has an enormous fresco
adorned by pigeons (drawn by Plantu) flying towards Victor Hugo
, symbolising freedom of the press
.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in 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...
. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry
Hubert Beuve-Méry
Hubert Beuve-Méry founded Le Monde in 1944 at the behest of Charles de Gaulle. Following the liberation of France Beuve-Méry built Le Monde from the ruins of Le Temps using its offices, printing presses, masthead and those staff members who had not collaborated with the Germans.He retired his...
on 19 December 1944. It was founded at the request of General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
after the German army was driven from Paris during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and took over the headquarters and layout of Le Temps
Le Temps (Paris)
Le Temps was one of Paris's most important daily newspapers from April 25, 1861 to November 30, 1942.Founded in 1861 by Edmund Chojecki and Auguste Nefftzer, Le Temps was under Nefftzer's direction for ten years, when Adrien Hébrard took his place...
, which was the most important newspaper in France before but whose reputation had suffered during the Occupation. Beuve-Méry reportedly demanded total editorial independence
Editorial independence
Editorial independence is the freedom of editors to make decisions without interference from the owners of a publication. Editorial independence is tested, for instance, if a newspaper runs articles that may be unpopular with its advertising clientele....
as the condition for his taking on the project.
Le Monde is the principal publication of La Vie-Le Monde Group. It should not be confused with the monthly publication Le Monde diplomatique
Le Monde diplomatique
Le Monde diplomatique is a monthly newspaper offering analysis and opinion on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first created mainly for a diplomatic audience as its name implies...
, of which Le Monde has 51% ownership, but which is editorially independent. It reports an average circulation
Newspaper circulation
A newspaper's circulation is the number of copies it distributes on an average day. Circulation is one of the principal factors used to set advertising rates. Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often called paid circulation, since some newspapers are distributed without cost to the...
of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009, about 40,000 of which are sold abroad. It has been available on the Internet since 19 December 1995, and is often the only French newspaper easily obtainable in non-French-speaking countries. Its current chief editor (rédacteur en chef) is Erik Izraelewicz. Plantu is one of several political cartoonists who contribute to the paper, and his work is often featured on the front page above the fold
Above the fold
"Above the fold" is a graphic design concept that refers to the location of an important news story or a visually appealing photograph on the upper half of the front page of a newspaper, or in case of webpages, the part of a page that's visible without scrolling. Most papers are delivered and...
.
In the 1990s and 2000s, La Vie-Le Monde Group expanded under editor Jean-Marie Colombani
Jean-Marie Colombani
Jean-Marie Colombani is a French journalist, and was the editor of the daily newspaper Le Monde from 1994 until 2007.-Biography:...
with a number of acquisitions. However, its profitability was not sufficient to cover the large debt loads it took on to fund this expansion, and it has sought new investors in 2010 to keep the company out of bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. It has been suggested that a condition for a bailout might be the loss of Le Mondes famous control by its own journalists. In June 2010, investors Matthieu Pigasse, Pierre Bergé
Pierre Bergé
Pierre Bergé is a French industrialist and patron. He is perhaps best known as the co-founder of Yves Saint Laurent Couture House and former partner of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.-Early life:...
, and Xavier Niel
Xavier Niel
Xavier Niel, born 25 August 1967 is a French entrepreneur and businessman, active in the telecommunications and technology industry and best known as founder and majority shareholder of the French Internet service provider Iliad trading under the Free brand...
acquired a controlling stake in the newspaper. In December, it was reported that after conflicts with the new investors, board chairman
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
and director of publication Éric Fottorino would depart.
Presentation
Le Monde was often described in the past as left-wing, but its editorial line may be more appropriately described nowadays as centre-leftCentre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
. In 1981, it backed the election of Socialist
Socialist 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...
François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
on the grounds that alternation of the political party in government would be beneficial to the country. The paper endorsed Ségolène Royal
Ségolène Royal
Marie-Ségolène Royal , known as Ségolène Royal, is a French politician. She is the president of the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, a former member of the National Assembly, a former government minister, and a prominent member of the French Socialist Party...
, the Socialist candidate, in the 2007 presidential election.
The paper's journalistic side has a collegial form of organization, in which most journalists are not only tenured, but financial stakeholders in the enterprise as well, and participate in the elections of upper management and senior executives. In contrast to other world newspapers such as The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Le Monde was traditionally focused on offering analysis and opinion, as opposed to being a newspaper of record. Hence, it was considered less important for the paper to cover "all the news that's fit to print" (the motto of The New York Times) than to offer thoughtful interpretation of current events. Writers of lead reporting articles did not hesitate to provide commentary or venture predictions. In recent years, however, the paper has established a greater distinction between fact and opinion.
Controversies and politics
According The Mitrokhin ArchiveMitrokhin Archive
The Mitrokhin Archive is a collection of notes made secretly by KGB Major Vasili Mitrokhin during his thirty years as a KGB archivist in the foreign intelligence service and the First Chief Directorate...
investigators, Le Monde (KGB codename VESTNIK, "messenger") was KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
's key outlet for spreading anti-American and pro-Soviet disinformation
Active measures
Active Measures were a form of political warfare conducted by the Soviet security services to influence the course of world events, "in addition to collecting intelligence and producing politically correct assessment of it". Active measures ranged "from media manipulations to special actions...
to the French media. The archive identified two senior Le Monde journalists and several contributors who were used in the operations (See also Russian influence operations in France).
Michel Legris wrote in 1976 "Le monde tel qu'il est". According to this former journalist of Le Monde, the journal minimized the atrocities committed by the Cambodian Khmer Rouge.
In their 2003 book titled La face cachée du Monde ("The hidden face of Le Monde"), authors Pierre Péan
Pierre Péan
Pierre Péan is a renowned French investigative journalist and author of many books concerned with political scandals.-Books, investigations and controversies:...
and Philippe Cohen alleged that Colombani and then-editor Edwy Plenel had shown, amongst other things, partisan
Partisan (political)
In politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation - referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their...
bias
Bias
Bias is an inclination to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of alternatives. Bias can come in many forms.-In judgement and decision making:...
and had engaged in financial dealings that compromised the paper's independence. It also accused the paper of dangerously damaging the authority of the French state by having revealed various political scandals (notably corruption scandals surrounding Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
, the "Irish of Vincennes" affair, and the sinking of a Greenpeace boat, the Rainbow Warrior
Rainbow Warrior (1978)
The Rainbow Warrior was a former UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food trawler later purchased by the environmental organisation Greenpeace...
, by French intelligence under President François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
). In one chapter, the authors of the book accused Colombani and Plenel of "xenophilia" and of "not liking France". This book remains controversial, but attracted much attention and media coverage in France and around the world at the time of its publication. Following a lawsuit, the authors and the publisher agreed in 2004 not to proceed to any reprinting.
Le Monde has been found guilty of defamation for saying that Catalan soccer club FC Barcelona was connected to a doctor involved in steroid use. The court fined the newspaper nearly $450,000 and the French newspaper will have to publish a copy of the court's sentence in both its newspaper and online versions.
Recent circulation history
| Year | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circulation | 390,840 | 392,772 | 405,983 | 407,085 | 389,249 | 371,803 | 360,610 | 350,039 | 358,655 | 340,131 | 323,039 |
Publication schedule
Le Monde is published around midday, and the date on the masthead is the following day's. For instance, the issue released at midday on 15 March shows 16 March on the masthead. It is available on newsstands in Paris and some other parts of France on the day of release, and received by mail subscribers on the masthead date.Famous investigation
Among the famous investigations of Le Monde is one concerning the sinking of the Rainbow WarriorSinking of the Rainbow Warrior
The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, codenamed Opération Satanique, was an operation by the "action" branch of the French foreign intelligence services, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure , carried out on July 10, 1985...
. In 1995, on the 10th anniversary of this failed secret operation, the newspaper directly implicated François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
, who was president at the time, in the operation.
Headquarters
Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui
The Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui is a boulevard in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. It is one of the main arteries linking the Place d'Italie with the Place Denfert-Rochereau....
.
The building—formerly the headquarters of Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
—was refashioned by 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...
from the designs of Christian de Portzamparc
Christian de Portzamparc
Christian de Portzamparc is a French architect and urbanist. He graduated from the École Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris in 1970 and has since been noted for his bold designs and artistic touch; his projects reflect a sensibility to their environment and the town is a founding principal of his...
. The building's façade has an enormous fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
adorned by pigeons (drawn by Plantu) flying towards Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
, symbolising freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
.
Directors
- Hubert Beuve-MéryHubert Beuve-MéryHubert Beuve-Méry founded Le Monde in 1944 at the behest of Charles de Gaulle. Following the liberation of France Beuve-Méry built Le Monde from the ruins of Le Temps using its offices, printing presses, masthead and those staff members who had not collaborated with the Germans.He retired his...
(1944–1969) - Jacques Fauvet (1969–1981)
- Claude JulienClaude Julien (journalist)Claude Julien was a French journalist, editor of French newspaper of record Le Monde in 1969 and editor-in-chief then director of Le Monde diplomatique....
(1981–1982) - André Laurens (1982–1985)
- André FontaineAndré FontaineAndré Fontaine is a French historian and journalist . He started working at Temps Présent, and then at Le Monde in 1947, at the official beginning of the Cold War. He became the newspaper's editor from 1969 to 1985, and director from 1985 to 1991. As of February 2007 he was still contributing...
(1985–1991) - Jacques Lesourne (1991–1994)
- Jean-Marie ColombaniJean-Marie ColombaniJean-Marie Colombani is a French journalist, and was the editor of the daily newspaper Le Monde from 1994 until 2007.-Biography:...
(1994–2007) - Éric FottorinoEric FottorinoEric Fottorino, , is a French journalist and writer. He is the winner of the Prix Femina, 2007, for Baisers de cinéma. After having been a reporter for the daily newspaper Le Monde, then becoming editor-in-chief and executive editor, he was appointed president of the directory group of the La...
(2007–present)
See also
- Claude JulienClaude Julien (journalist)Claude Julien was a French journalist, editor of French newspaper of record Le Monde in 1969 and editor-in-chief then director of Le Monde diplomatique....
, editor in 1969 - List of French newspapers
- Le FigaroLe FigaroLe Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
- LibérationLibérationLibération is a French daily newspaper founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Originally a leftist newspaper, it has undergone a number of shifts during the 1980s and 1990s...
- El País, newspaper in Spain inspired by Le Monde
- Jean-Louis de RamburesJean-Louis de RamburesJean-Louis Vicomte de Bretizel Rambures was a French journalist, author, translator of literature, literary critic, and cultural attaché.- Life :...
, journalist
External links
- Le Monde website
- Le Monde mobile site
- OJD Regular French Press Review—Radio France International
- http://www.google.com/custom?hl=en&cof=BIMG%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2FWORLDMEETS.US%2Fimages%2FUSAbkgd.jpg%3BAH%3Aleft%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2FWORLDMEETS.US%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2FWORLDMEETS.US%2Fimagesui%2Fwalogo_siteid.gif%3BLH%3A90%3BLW%3A213%3BBGC%3A%23e9f9e9%3BT%3A%2300354f%3BVLC%3A%230000ff%3BGALT%3A%230000cc%3B&domains=WORLDMEETS.US&q=Le+Monde&sitesearch=WORLDMEETS.USEnglish translations of Le Monde articles available through nonprofit WorldMeets.US]
