Libération
Encyclopedia
Libération 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. As of 2007, it has a circulation of about 140,000 and was the first French daily to have a website.
While Libération still has a decidedly self-described left-wing progressive
editorial line − generally supportive of causes such as anti-racism
, feminism
, and workers' rights − Edouard de Rothschild
's entrance in its capital (37%) in 2005 and editor Serge July's campaign for the "yes" vote in the referendum establishing a Constitution for Europe the same year alienated it from a number of its left-wing readers. Its editorial stance is currently social liberal.
In May 2007, former Libération journalists created the news website Rue 89
.
and Serge July
and has been published from 3 February 1973, in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Sartre remained editor of Libération until 24 May 1974.
The paper was initially run along non-hierarchical lines, with all staff – from the editor-in-chief to the janitor – receiving the same salary, but this later gave way to a "normal set-up." In the early 1980s it began to take advertisements and allowed external bodies to have a stake in its financing, which it had completely refused before, but continued to maintain a left-of-centre editorial stance.
as new director.
Although Libération is not affiliated with any political party, it has, from its theoretical origins in the May 1968 turmoil in France, a left-wing slant. According to co-founder and former director Serge July, Libé was an activist newspaper that, however, does not support any particular political party, acts as a counter-power, and generally has bad relations with both left-wing and right-wing administrations. Libé's opinion pages (rebonds) publish views from many political standpoints. An example of their proclaimed independent, "counter-power" slant is when in 1993 Libération leaked Socialist president François Mitterrand
's illegal wiretapping program.
Libération is known for its sometimes alternative points of view on cultural and social events. For instance, in addition to reports about crimes and other events, it also chronicles daily criminal trials, bringing in a more human vision of petty criminals. As Serge July puts it , "the equation of Libération consisted in combining counter-culture and political radicalism". Critics contend, however, that this radicalism has largely receded since the 1970s and that Libé is no longer a truly left-wing newspaper. The editors' decision, in 2005, to support the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
(TCE) was criticized by many of its readers, who later decided to vote "no" to a treaty seen as too neoliberal
, lacking social views deemed necessary to the solid foundation of a "European nation".
On December 11, 2010, Libération started hosting a mirror of the WikiLeaks
website, including the United States diplomatic cables
and other document collections, in solidarity with WikiLeaks, in order to prevent it from being "suffocated" by "governments and companies that were trying to block [WikiLeaks'] functioning without even a judicial decision".
to buy a stake in the paper. The board agreed on 20 January 2005. Social conflicts arose shortly after. On 25 November 2005, the paper went on strike, protesting against the layoff of 52 workers. Rothschild, who had promised he would not interfere in editorial decisions, decided that he wasn't playing an active enough role in the paper's management. In May 2006 the paper announced a week-end magazine called Libé week-end, with a supplement called Ecrans (covering television, internet and film), and another called R. (The latter was abandoned in September of the same year)
On 13 June 2006, Serge July told the editorial staff that Édouard de Rothschild was refusing to invest more money in the paper unless Louis Dreyfus (directeur général) and himself left the paper. July had accepted, believing the paper's future existence to depend on his decision. The journalists were shocked. The next day, they published a public statement praising the paper's founder and expressing their worries about journalistic independence. Serge July left the paper on 30 June 2006.
A debate between Bernard Lallement, the first administrator-manager of Libération and Edouard de Rothschild took place in Le Monde
newspaper. In a column published on 4 July 2006, Lallement argued that July's departure was the end of an era where "writing meant something". Lallement painted a bleak picture of Libération' s future, as well as that of the press as a whole. Criticizing Rothschild's interference, Lallement quoted Sartre, who had famously said that "Money doesn't have any ideas". Later, on his blog, Lallement argued that Rothschild, who had had no historic attachment to the paper, was only interested in making money, not in the paper itself. On 6 July, Rothschild declared: "Libération needs help and moral, intellectual and financial support. Libération doesn't need a requiem."
Sixty-two employees (including 35 journalists, such as Antoine de Gaudemar, chief editor, Sorj Chalandon
, who was awarded the Albert Londres Prize
, both present since the 1973 creation of Libé, or Pierre Haski
, deputy editor, present since 1981, were about to resign end of January 2007 (on a total of 276 employees). With the 55 others employees who left the newspaper end of 2005, this makes a total of about 150 persons who were dismissed since Rothschild's entrance to the capital, not including tens of resignations (Florence Aubenas
, Dominique Simonnot, Antoine de Baecque, Jean Hatzfeld)
In May 2007, former Libération journalists, including Pierre Haski or Pascal Riché
(Op-Ed editor of Libération) created the news website Rue 89
.
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
and Serge July
Serge July
Serge July is a French journalist, founder of the daily Libération, and a prominent figure in French politics from the 1970s through the 1990s.-References:...
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. As of 2007, it has a circulation of about 140,000 and was the first French daily to have a website.
While Libération still has a decidedly self-described left-wing progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
editorial line − generally supportive of causes such as anti-racism
Anti-racism
Anti-racism includes beliefs, actions, movements, and policies adopted or developed to oppose racism. In general, anti-racism is intended to promote an egalitarian society in which people do not face discrimination on the basis of their race, however defined...
, feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, and workers' rights − Edouard de Rothschild
Edouard Etienne de Rothschild
Édouard Etienne Alphonse de Rothschild is a businessman and part of the French branch of the prominent Rothschild family. He is the son of Guy de Rothschild and Marie-Hélène van Zuylen van Nyevelt .-Background:Édouard de Rothschild studied law in France and in 1985 graduated with an M.B.A...
's entrance in its capital (37%) in 2005 and editor Serge July's campaign for the "yes" vote in the referendum establishing a Constitution for Europe the same year alienated it from a number of its left-wing readers. Its editorial stance is currently social liberal.
In May 2007, former Libération journalists created the news website Rue 89
Rue 89
Rue89 is a French news website. It was officially launched on 6 May 2007, on the day of the second round of the French presidential election. Its news editor is Pascal Riché, former Op-ed editor of Libération, and its chief editor...
.
First period (1973–81)
Libération was founded by Jean-Paul Sartre, Philippe Gavi, Bernard Lallement, Jean-Claude Vernier, Pierre Victor alias Benny LévyBenny Lévy
Benny Lévy was a philosopher, political activist and author. A political figure of May 1968 in France, he was the disciple and last personal secretary of Jean-Paul Sartre from 1974 to 1980....
and Serge July
Serge July
Serge July is a French journalist, founder of the daily Libération, and a prominent figure in French politics from the 1970s through the 1990s.-References:...
and has been published from 3 February 1973, in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Sartre remained editor of Libération until 24 May 1974.
The paper was initially run along non-hierarchical lines, with all staff – from the editor-in-chief to the janitor – receiving the same salary, but this later gave way to a "normal set-up." In the early 1980s it began to take advertisements and allowed external bodies to have a stake in its financing, which it had completely refused before, but continued to maintain a left-of-centre editorial stance.
Second period (since 1981)
After several crises, Libération temporarily stopped being published in February 1981. It resumed publication on 13 May under a new format, with Serge JulySerge July
Serge July is a French journalist, founder of the daily Libération, and a prominent figure in French politics from the 1970s through the 1990s.-References:...
as new director.
Although Libération is not affiliated with any political party, it has, from its theoretical origins in the May 1968 turmoil in France, a left-wing slant. According to co-founder and former director Serge July, Libé was an activist newspaper that, however, does not support any particular political party, acts as a counter-power, and generally has bad relations with both left-wing and right-wing administrations. Libé
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...
's illegal wiretapping program.
Libération is known for its sometimes alternative points of view on cultural and social events. For instance, in addition to reports about crimes and other events, it also chronicles daily criminal trials, bringing in a more human vision of petty criminals. As Serge July puts it , "the equation of Libération consisted in combining counter-culture and political radicalism". Critics contend, however, that this radicalism has largely receded since the 1970s and that Libé is no longer a truly left-wing newspaper. The editors' decision, in 2005, to support the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe , , was an unratified international treaty intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union...
(TCE) was criticized by many of its readers, who later decided to vote "no" to a treaty seen as too neoliberal
Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism is a market-driven approach to economic and social policy based on neoclassical theories of economics that emphasizes the efficiency of private enterprise, liberalized trade and relatively open markets, and therefore seeks to maximize the role of the private sector in determining the...
, lacking social views deemed necessary to the solid foundation of a "European nation".
On December 11, 2010, Libération started hosting a mirror of the WikiLeaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
website, including the United States diplomatic cables
United States diplomatic cables leak
The United States diplomatic cables leak, widely known as Cablegate, began in February 2010 when WikiLeaks—a non-profit organization that publishes submissions from anonymous whistleblowers—began releasing classified cables that had been sent to the U.S. State Department by 274 of its consulates,...
and other document collections, in solidarity with WikiLeaks, in order to prevent it from being "suffocated" by "governments and companies that were trying to block [WikiLeaks'] functioning without even a judicial decision".
Édouard de Rothschild's involvement
In 2005 Libération badly needed funds, and Serge July strove to convince the board to allow Édouard de RothschildEdouard de Rothschild
Edouard de Rothschild may refer to:* Édouard Alphonse de Rothschild , French banker* Édouard Etienne de Rothschild , French financier & horseman...
to buy a stake in the paper. The board agreed on 20 January 2005. Social conflicts arose shortly after. On 25 November 2005, the paper went on strike, protesting against the layoff of 52 workers. Rothschild, who had promised he would not interfere in editorial decisions, decided that he wasn't playing an active enough role in the paper's management. In May 2006 the paper announced a week-end magazine called Libé week-end, with a supplement called Ecrans (covering television, internet and film), and another called R. (The latter was abandoned in September of the same year)
On 13 June 2006, Serge July told the editorial staff that Édouard de Rothschild was refusing to invest more money in the paper unless Louis Dreyfus (directeur général) and himself left the paper. July had accepted, believing the paper's future existence to depend on his decision. The journalists were shocked. The next day, they published a public statement praising the paper's founder and expressing their worries about journalistic independence. Serge July left the paper on 30 June 2006.
A debate between Bernard Lallement, the first administrator-manager of Libération and Edouard de Rothschild took place in Le Monde
Le Monde
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...
newspaper. In a column published on 4 July 2006, Lallement argued that July's departure was the end of an era where "writing meant something". Lallement painted a bleak picture of Libération
Sixty-two employees (including 35 journalists, such as Antoine de Gaudemar, chief editor, Sorj Chalandon
Sorj Chalandon
Sorj Chalandon is a French writer and journalist. From 1973 until 2007 he worked as a journalist on Libération where, among other things, he covered events in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan. In 1988 he received the Albert Londres Prize for his articles on Northern Ireland and the...
, who was awarded the Albert Londres Prize
Albert Londres Prize
The Albert Londres Prize is a French journalism award, named in honor of journalist Albert Londres. Created in 1932, it was first awarded in 1933, and has been awarded every year since to the "best reporter in the written press"...
, both present since the 1973 creation of Libé, or Pierre Haski
Pierre Haski
Pierre Haski is a French journalist, co-founder of Rue 89. He was deputy editor of Libération from January 2006 till his departure in 2007 from the daily.- Life :...
, deputy editor, present since 1981, were about to resign end of January 2007 (on a total of 276 employees). With the 55 others employees who left the newspaper end of 2005, this makes a total of about 150 persons who were dismissed since Rothschild's entrance to the capital, not including tens of resignations (Florence Aubenas
Florence Aubenas
Florence Aubenas is a French journalist, who worked until 2006 for the French newspaper Libération. She was taken hostage on January 5, 2005, in Iraq along with her translator Hussein Hanoun Al-Saadi....
, Dominique Simonnot, Antoine de Baecque, Jean Hatzfeld)
In May 2007, former Libération journalists, including Pierre Haski or Pascal Riché
Pascal Riché
Pascal Riché is a French journalist, co-founder of Rue 89 along with Arnaud Aubron, Laurent Mauriac, and Pierre Haski.- Life :...
(Op-Ed editor of Libération) created the news website Rue 89
Rue 89
Rue89 is a French news website. It was officially launched on 6 May 2007, on the day of the second round of the French presidential election. Its news editor is Pascal Riché, former Op-ed editor of Libération, and its chief editor...
.
Circulation statistics
| Year | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2004–2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circulation | 169 427 | 169 011 | 171 551 | 164 286 | 158 115 | 146 109 | 140 334 |
See also
- Le MondeLe MondeLe 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...
- 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...
- L'HumanitéL'HumanitéL'Humanité , formerly the daily newspaper linked to the French Communist Party , was founded in 1904 by Jean Jaurès, a leader of the French Section of the Workers' International...
- La CroixLa CroixLa Croix is a daily French general-interest Roman Catholic newspaper. It is published in Paris and distributed throughout the country, with a circulation of just under 110,000 as of 2009...
- Les Échos
- La TribuneLa TribuneLa Tribune is a French financial newspaper that was founded in 1985. The paper is in tabloid format and has a circulation of around 78,000.- External links :**...
External links
Libération's WWW site Libération Expresso - Libération official mobile website Regular French Press Review – Radio France International- OJD
- 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=Liberation&sitesearch=WORLDMEETS.USEnglish translations of Libération articles from nonprofit WorldMeets.US]
