The “big three” of the so-called quality daily newspapers are Le Monde, Le Figaro and LibÈration. Despite a continuous drop in circulation they still have an important influence on both public opinion and the other media. However, their combined circulation of approximately 850,000 is lower than that of the major newspapers in the other European countries.

<!–^~^13|left|Bouquinistes in Paris whereyou can find older issuesof French Newspapers^~^–>Another big name in the popular press is Le Parisien, a conservative daily, which has managed to renovate its style and spring back after a period of declining circulation; it also offers a national edition, Aujourd’hui. These innovations have been successful and Le Parisien, with a circulation of 400,000, has climbed to second place among national dailies; sales rose by 9% from 1991 to 1993.

In contrast, the popular news daily France-Soir has not been able to check its downswing; circulation fell from 1.5 million in 1955 to 500,000 in 1985 and 200,000 in 1994.

Specialized dailies have done better, especially the daily economic and financial papers (Les Echos, with a circulation of 138,000 and La Tribune DesfossÈs with 78,000) and the daily sports press; L’Equipe, founded in 1946, has a circulation of 381,000 on weekdays and over 400,000 on Monday.

News Weeklies
France’s major general news weeklies are Paris-Match, L’Express, Le Point, Le Nouvel Observateur, VSD, L’EvÈnement du Jeudi . The price of these periodicals ranges from 14 to 30 francs ($2.50 to $5.40).

An interesting concept, the Courrier international founded in 1990, publishes articles collected in the press worldwide and translated in French (100,000 copies per week).

A satirical weekly, Le Canard EnchaÓnÈ, founded in 1916, maintains its independence by refusing any advertising. It sells for 8 francs ($1.45) and criticizes abuses of power using caricatures and puns (550,000 copies per week.

Economic Magazines
Between 1979 and 1991 the economic press jumped from seven to 17 titles, most of them doing very well. The major ones are: Investir Magazine (166,115 copies), Capital (365,000copies), Le Revenu franÁais (205,250 copies), Mieux vivre votre argent (192,000 copies) and Valeurs Actuelles (98,000 copies).

Radio and television weeklies
They are among the French magazines with the largest circulation (over 11 million copies in 1995) : TÈlÈ 7 Jours sells three million copies, TÈlÈ Star, TÈlÈ-Loisirs and TÈlÈ Z 6 million.

Women’s weeklies
The women’s press has a long history in France; today it is flourishing and is often distributed abroad, where it contributes to propagating the traditional image of France (fashion, beauty, the art of living). Magazines such as Femme actuelle (circulation 1,900,000), Prima (circulation 1,200,000), Modes et Travaux (867,262), Madame Figaro (547,000) and Marie-Claire (560,782) rank among the 28 French titles whose circulation exceeds 500,000. The most prestigious and most influential of the women’s magazines is probably Elle. Founded in 1945, Elle has managed to keep pace with changing ways of life and with women’s issues both in France and abroad while accenting fashion and style. Its 347,703 copies are sold on the newsstand for 13 francs ($2.40); in addition to the French there are English, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic and Chinese editions.

Miscellaneous weeklies
Almost every fashion, trend, sport, culture, art, and way of life has its own publication in France: there are over 15 magazines are devoted to the automobile, six to motorcycles, nine to photography or the cinema, 20 to food, tourism and travel, seven to science, six to music, 16 to computers, 32 to a wide variety of sports, 11 to literature, history and art, 23 to homes and gardens, 11 to hunting and fishing – the list could go on indefinitely.

LINKS

News
Paris Match

Business
L’Expansion
Investir
Le Revenue

Women
Elle

TV Guide
Tele 7Jours

Sports
Onze Mondail

Photography
Photo

Kids
Le Journal des Enfants

Enjoying a monopoly situation within a particular area, the regional press is stronger than the national press with 409 titles for a circulation of 2.2 billion copies annually.

Several large groups dominate: thus Robert Hersant’s group controls some 30% of the market (Le DauphinÈ LibÈrÈ, Paris-Normandie, Le ProgrËs de Lyon, Les DerniËres Nouvelles d’Alsace, Nord-Matin, Nord-Eclair, Le Havre-Libre, Midi-Libre, etc.). Hachette-Filipacchi Presse is also a major force (Le ProvenÁal, Le MÈridional, La RÈpublique), alongside smaller groups formed around a flagship title (Ouest-France, Sud-Ouest, La DÈpÍche du Midi, La Voix du Nord).).

Ouest-France, the largest of the regional French dailies (17 editions for a total circulation of over 800,000) is distributed in 12 departments in Brittany, Normandy and the Loire country. With daily sales of some seven million and a readership of over 20 million, the daily regional press comes second as the largest national communications form, after television.

LINKS

South East – Nice
Nice Matin
La Bien Public
La Depeche du Midi
La Eveil Hebdo
Ouest France
Le Progres
Le Dauphine Libere
Le Republicain Lorraine
Le Republique Pyrenees
Le Telegramme de Brest
La Voix du Nord

There are also photo news services; the three foremost in the world are Sygma, Gamma and Sipa, all of which are French.

In addition, the Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (INA), is a governemment agency in charge of managing and maintaining the French audiovisual TV archives.

LINKS

News Service
Agence France-Presse

Photo Service
SYGMA

Audio-Visual Archives
INA