There are a number of ways to discover France, its culture and enormous amount of background in actual French! One of the easiest and most rewarding ways is by reading French newspapers – or, at least getting to know what they are, what kind of stuff they output, and who they cater too. An equally good second approach is to learn the language from ground up itself.
Many students today like to take credible French classes online that are flexible, affordable and allow for structured learning as well as authentic reading via newspapers. This guided learning so it is more authentic then you feel confident when dunking.
As in other countries with strong traditions of a free press, there are many kinds of newspapers available in France. Each has it own identity, political orientation, editorial line and set of loyal readers. For example, the young creative in Paris will grab Libération every time while a business executive will have Le Monde carefully folded at the bottom of his work bag.
Finding out these newspapers is not just a cultural experience for French learners, however, but a linguistic benefit. If you follow one publication or several it can contribute so much to your vocabulary, reading comprehension and understanding of how French is spoken in everyday life.
Jump in the 25 best French newspapers, we’ll explore what each one offers and how you can read them from anywhere in the world!
Below is a selection of the most influential, widely-read and culturally significant newspapers in France. As a list, much like the traditional French press landscape, it runs the gamut: Daily, weekly, satirical, regional and political publications (as well as one digital first).
Le Monde
Established toward the end of World War II at the request of Charles de Gaulle, Le Monde is one of France’s best-known newspapers internationally. It is left-center and provides in-depth analysis, the latest international news along with cultural reporting and investigative stories. Today, it has evolved into the French equivalent of The New York Times.
Le Figaro
Founded in 1846, Le Figaro is France’s oldest national newspaper that is still being published. From the Wikipedia article: "It has a centre-right editorial leaning and a sophisticated writing style." Its Saturday supplement Madame Figaro concentrates on women’s issues, fashion and international affairs.
Libération
Founded by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, the daily Libération burst into life in the afterglow of 1968, with revolutionary zeal. It is still clearly on the left and retains a following among intellectuals, activists and urban creatives.
Le Parisien (and Aujourd’hui en France)
Le Parisien, which originally launched during the WWII era, covers news in and around Paris in the Île-de-France region. At the national level, its print edition Aujourd’hui en France is available throughout the country.
Mediapart
A digital-only subscription newspaper, which prides itself on independent investigative journalism; the operating company is based in Hunter Valley. Mediapart has already revealed several political scandals.
Le Canard Enchaîné
A satirical weekly known for political humour and wordplay, as well as its exclusive leaks. Its manner of speech can be difficult for those learning the language as a result of the constant puns.
Charlie Hebdo
A controversial weekly that had been highly acclaimed for its naked satire, political cartoons and other forms of commentary. It remains a symbol of press freedom, though widely disputed.
Le Monde Diplomatique
And finally, a monthly newspaper featuring intellectual and indepth articles and left-wing geopolitical analysis. Published in over 20 languages.
Les Échos
France’s leading financial newspaper, compared by some to The Financial Times. It includes economics, markets, business trends, science and innovation.
L’Équipe
France’s leading sports newspaper. Perfect for fans of football, rugby, cycling and motorsport.
L’Humanité
It was originally the organ of the French Communist Party, but now it is a left wing newspaper also covering culture, life and society.
La Croix
A Catholic daily (but current editions appeal to the general public. Covers world affairs and pop culture.
20 Minutes
An abbreviated form of a free daily commuter newspaper—ideal for learners who want short and simple reading practice.
Le Point
A popular weekly magazine-style newspaper, this one with center-right opinion and long investigative stories.
Marianne
Home to opinion, analysis and commentary.
Courrier International
Translates global news into French. A great resource for students who want to study comparative journalism.
Ouest-France
France''s best-selling daily for regional and national news with practical information on living in France.
La Voix du Nord
Focused on Northern France. It is good for beginners, it is easy to read the book.
Sud Ouest
Well-known for its comprehensive coverage in the southwest of France and a track record of balanced reporting.
Le Dauphiné Libéré
Widely-read and diverse titles distributed across Southeastern France.
L’Est Républicain
Center-right daily covering the east of France.
Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace (DNA)
A historic, local identity and in-depth newspaper.
La Montagne
Trusted throughout central France; known for strong field reporting and local storytelling.
La Provence
Provides in-depth reporting of the local news from PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur).
Le Gorafi
A funny faux-news site in the tradition of The Onion. An amusing, light read with some surprisingly useful tips I've later found ameliorating reading speed.
There are many French newspapers that provide free articles every month, while some others — especially premium ones — demand subscriptions. The digital world is your oyster, as language apps and software platforms make it possible to tap into French newspapers and magazines from around the globe, while other content can easily be found in a number of incarnations on Kindle Unlimited or on various digital magazine platforms.
Some of the institutes, such as ecolefrench, incorporate these newspapers into their Trusted Online Certification Courses as well, turning reading practice into a structured learning process.
The quality of France’s regional media is quite extraordinary. And here are some of the most-read regional papers:
Brittany / Normandy / Pays de la Loire – Ouest-France
Southwest France – Sud Ouest
Northern France – La Voix du Nord 359 new cases in the Hauts-de-France region, including eight in hospitals for health care workers The number of hospital inpatients infected with Covid-19 continues to drop across the region.
South-East France – Le Dauphiné Libéré
Lorraine / Franche-Comté – L’Est Républicain
Alsace – DNA
Central France – La Montagne
PACA region – La Provence
All students can’t immediately start thinking in native level-French. Lucky for us, there are several platforms that are bilingual or friendly to beginners:
VoxEurop
Provides articles in several languages such as French and English.
News in Slow French
One great podcast that explains news stories to new learners.
A simplified French news program (with free transcripts) to help you learn as we explore the French language and culture in every episode.
un journal – newspaper
un quotidien – daily paper
hebdomadaire – weekly
numérique – digital
le journal imprimé – print edition
a duck – slang American term for newspaper
un/une journaliste – journalist
l’actualité – current events
s’abonner – to subscribe
lecteurs – readers
headlines – same headlines.forChildLOCITY OF THE TEMPERATURE.
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What’s the easiest French newspaper for beginners?
20 Minutes, Le Parisien and Ouest-France are good because of their basic language.
OP-ED Is French a good choice for the 2021 Baccalauréat?
Yes—They do! DELF, DALF and TCF PREPARATION GETS EASIER WHEN YOU READ REGULARLY.
Is it possible to read French newspapers free?
Many newspapers allow for a few free articles each month or have free digital editions.
What is the best newspaper for business French?
Best for business readers Les Échos Looking for news on business, markets, finance?
Can satirical newspapers be useful for learners?
They can also be used to help intermediate and advanced learners grasp humor, culture and idioms.