Mass media in France


Compared to other European nations, the French are not avid newspaper readers, citing only 164 adults out of every 1000 as newspaper readers.
The French press was healthiest in the aftermath of World War II. A year after the end of the war, 28 papers had a combined circulation of about 7 million. However, seven years later that figure had been nearly halved. This decline was principally due to the greater popularity of the broadcast media and the subsequent diversion of advertising revenues. Since 2000 newly produced free papers have further weakened the established press. Still, 80 daily papers remain, and there are a wide range of weeklies, many of which now feature internet sites.
Regional papers have remained relatively unaffected by the decline, with provincial newspapers commanding a higher degree of reader loyalty. For example, Ouest-France, sells almost twice as many copies as any of the national dailies.

Books

In the early 21st century, the best-selling daily was the regional Ouest-France in 47 local editions, followed by Le Progres of Lyon, La Voix du Nord in Lille, and Provençal in Marseille. In Paris the Communists published l'Humanite while Le Monde Figaro had local rivals in Le Parisien, L'Aurore and the leftist Libération.

Daily newspapers and circulation

Below are the circulation figures of France's national daily newspapers. Sources : OJD France 2011.

Title2011
Le Parisien/Aujourd’hui en France
Le Figaro
Le Monde
L'Équipe
Les Échos
Libération
La Croix
La Tribune
L'Humanité
France-Soir

Publications by circulation

Readers2011
Ensemble PQN789,000
Le Parisien/Aujourd'hui en France244,000
L’Équipe220,000
Le Monde196,000
Le Figaro119,000
Libération96,000
Les Echos47,000
La Croix40,000
L'Humanité28,000

Regional daily newspapers

TitleReader circulation PublisherRegion of circulation
Le ParisienAmauryParis, Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-d\'Oise, Essonne, Yvelines, Seine-et-Marne, Oise
La Montagne656,000Centre-FrancePuy-de-Dôme, Cantal, Allier, Haute-Loire, Creuse, Corrèze, Haute-Vienne
La République du Centre177,000Centre-FranceLoiret, Eure-et-Loir
L'Yonne Républicaine139,000Centre-FranceYonne
Le Populaire du Centre139,000Centre-FranceHaute-Vienne, Corrèze, Creuse
L'Écho républicain132,000Centre-FranceEure-et-Loir, Yvelines
Le Berry républicain106,000Centre-FranceCher, Indre
Le Journal du Centre103,000Centre-FranceNièvre
Le Dauphiné libéré960,000EBRADrôme, Ardèche, Hautes-Alpes, Isère, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Vaucluse
Le Progrès837,000EBRALoire, Rhône, Ain, Jura, Haute-Loire, Saône-et-Loire, Côte-d'Or
L'Est républicain598,000EBRADoubs, Haute-Saône, Territoire-de-Belfort, Vosges, Meuse, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace554,000EBRAHaut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin
L'Alsace-Le Pays314,000EBRABas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin
Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire221,000EBRASaône-et-Loire
Le Bien public174,000EBRACôte-d'Or, Yonne
Vosges-Matin144,000EBRAVosges
Le Journal de la Haute-Marne85,000EBRAHaute-Marne
La Provence635,000Hersant MédiaBouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
L'Union440,000Hersant MédiaMarne, Aisne, Ardennes
Nice-Matin367,000Hersant MédiaAlpes-Maritimes, Var, Haute-Corse, Corse-du-Sud
Paris-Normandie265,000Hersant MédiaSeine-Maritime, Eure, Yvelines
Var-matin256,000Hersant MédiaVar
Corse-Matin171,000Hersant MédiaHaute-Corse, Corse-du-Sud
L'Est-ÉclairHersant MédiaAube
La Dépêche du Midi771,000la DépêcheLot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Ariège, Aveyron, Aude, Lot-et-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées
La Nouvelle République des Pyrénéesla DépêcheHautes-Pyrénées
La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest670,000NRCOIndre, Cher, Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher
La Voix du Nord1,141,000RosselPas-de-Calais, Nord
Le Courrier picard301,000RosselSomme, Oise, Aisne
Nord éclairRosselNord
Ouest-France2,441,000SIPA - Ouest-FranceCalvados, Orne, Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan, Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, Mayenne, Sarthe, Maine-et-Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Vendée, Paris
Le Courrier de l'Ouest359,000SIPA - Ouest-FranceMaine-et-Loire, Deux-Sèvres
Le Maine libre193,000SIPA - Ouest-FranceSarthe
La Presse de la MancheSIPA - Ouest-FranceManche
Presse-OcéanSIPA - Ouest-FranceLoire-Atlantique
Sud Ouest1,083,000Sud OuestCharente, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Landes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Gers
Midi libre630,000Sud OuestHérault, Lozère, Gard, Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales, Aveyron
L'Indépendant232,000Sud OuestPyrénées-Orientales, Aude
Charente libre152,000Sud OuestCharente
La République des Pyrénées152,000Sud OuestPyrénées-Atlantiques
Centre PresseSud OuestAveyron
Le Télégramme 649,000TélégrammeFinistère, Côtes d'Armor, Morbihan
L'Écho du CentreHaute-Vienne, Corrèze, Creuse, Dordogne avec L'Écho Dordogne, Indre avec la Marseillaise du Berry
L'Éveil de la Haute-LoireHaute-Loire
Le Républicain lorrain485,000Moselle, Nord de la Meurthe-et-Moselle
La MarseillaiseBouches-du-Rhône, Gard, Var, Vaucluse

Television channels

The list below does not include Cable and Satellite television channels.