View source for Le Monde

{{Short description|French daily newspaper}}
{{for-multi|the book by René Descartes|The World (Descartes){{!}}''The World'' (Descartes)|other uses|Monde (disambiguation)}}
{{Expand French|Le Monde|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox newspaper
| name               = {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}}
| logo               = Le_Monde.svg
| image              = Une Le Monde.jpg
| image_alt          = border
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = First issue on 19 December 1944
| type               = Daily [[newspaper]]
| format             = [[Berliner (format)|Berliner]]<ref>{{cite news|title=The Berliner format|url=https://www.theguardian.com/gpc/berliner-format|access-date=24 November 2014|work=The Guardian}}</ref>
| founded            = 19 December 1944 ({{Age in years and days|19 December 1944}} ago)
| owners             = {{Lang|fr|[[Groupe Le Monde]]|italic=no}}
| publisher          = Louis Dreyfus
| editor             = [[Jérôme Fenoglio]]
| staff_writers      = 165
| language           = {{plainlist|
* French
* English (digital translation)<ref name="AFP English" /><ref name="Bloomberg English" />}}
| circulation        = 479,243 (total, 2022)<ref name="acpm">{{cite web |url=https://www.acpm.fr/Support/le-monde |title=Le Monde − History |date=n.d. |website=[[Alliance pour les chiffres de la presse et des médias]] |language=fr |access-date=20 June 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230620190214/https://www.acpm.fr/Support/le-monde |archive-date=20 June 2023}}</ref><br />360,000 (digital, 2020)<ref name="acpm"/>
| headquarters       = 67–69 Avenue Pierre Mendès-France <br /> 75707 [[Paris]] Cedex 13
| publishing_country = France
| ISSN               = 0395-2037
| eissn              = 1950-6244
| oclc               = 833476932
| website            = {{URL|lemonde.fr}}
}}

'''{{lang|fr|Le Monde}}''' ({{IPA|fr|lə mɔ̃d|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Jules78120-Le Monde.wav}}; {{langnf|fr||The World}}) is a [[mass media in France|French]] daily afternoon [[list of newspapers in France|newspaper]]. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average [[print circulation|circulation]] of 480,000 copies per issue in 2022, including 40,000 sold abroad. It has been available online since 1995, and it is often the only French newspaper easily obtainable in non-French-speaking countries. It should not be confused with the monthly publication ''{{Lang|fr|[[Le Monde diplomatique]]}}'', of which {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} has 51% ownership but is editorially independent. {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} is considered one of the French [[newspapers of record]], along with ''[[Libération]]'' and {{Lang|fr|[[Le Figaro]]}}. A [[Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism|Reuters Institute]] poll in 2021 found that {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} is the most trusted French newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alice Antheaume|date=2021|title=France|url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2021/france|website=[[Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism]]|language=en}}</ref>

The paper's journalistic side has a collegial form of organization, in which most journalists are tenured, unionized, and financial stakeholders in the business. While shareholders appoint the company's CEO, the editor is elected by ''Le Monde''{{'}}s journalists to defend the newsroom's independence.

''Le Monde'' has often broken major scandals, for instance, by directly implicating President [[François Mitterrand]] in the [[Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior|sinking of the ''Rainbow Warrior'']] in New Zealand. In contrast to other world newspapers such as ''[[The New York Times]]'', {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} was traditionally focused on offering analysis and opinion, as opposed to being a newspaper of record. It de-emphasized maximum coverage of the news in favor of thoughtful interpretation of current events. In recent years the paper has established a greater distinction between fact and opinion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lombard-media.lu/pdf/FR/LeMonde_comment.pdf |date=June 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117123357/http://www.lombard-media.lu/pdf/FR/LeMonde_comment.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2012 |work=Le Monde |title=Portrait d'un quotidien |language=fr |trans-title=Portrait of a daily}}</ref>

{{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} was founded by [[Hubert Beuve-Méry]] at the request of [[Charles de Gaulle]] (as Chairman of the [[Provisional Government of the French Republic]]) on 19 December 1944, shortly after the [[Liberation of Paris]] from Nazism, and has published continuously since its first edition. 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 debts it took on to fund this expansion, and it sought new investors in 2010 to keep the company from [[bankruptcy]]. In June 2010, French investors [[Matthieu Pigasse]], [[Pierre Bergé]], and [[Xavier Niel]] acquired a controlling stake in the newspaper.<ref name="Willsher2010">{{cite web |last=Willsher |first=Kim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/28/tycoons-win-approval-of-le-monde-bid |title=Tycoons given go-ahead for financial takeover of Le Monde |work=The Guardian |date=28 June 2010}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} was founded in 1944,<ref name=bbc11>{{cite news|title=The press in France|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4295349.stm|access-date=22 November 2014|work=BBC|date=11 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Historical development of the media in France|url=http://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335236220.pdf|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225005455/http://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335236220.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> at the request of General [[Charles de Gaulle]], after the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German army]] had been driven from Paris during [[World War II]]. The paper took over the headquarters and layout of {{Lang|fr|[[Le Temps (Paris)|Le Temps]]}}, which had been the most important newspaper in France, but its reputation had suffered during the [[German occupation of France during World War II|Occupation]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yexzGHVggokC|title=The National Daily Press of France|chapter=The Golden Age and the War Years|page=113|first=Clyde|last=Thogmartin|publisher=Summa Publications, Inc|year=1998|isbn=1-883479-20-7}}</ref> Beuve-Méry reportedly demanded total [[editorial independence]] as the condition for his taking on the project. ''Le Monde'' began publishing a weekly digest edition in English on 23 April 1969.<ref>{{cite news |last=L. Hess |first=John |author-link=John L. Hess |date=13 April 1969 |title=English Edition of Le Monde Due; Leading Paris Paper Starts Weekly Digest April 23 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/04/13/archives/english-edition-of-le-monde-due-leading-paris-paper-starts-weekly.html  |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620171957/https://www.nytimes.com/1969/04/13/archives/english-edition-of-le-monde-due-leading-paris-paper-starts-weekly.html|archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref>

According to the [[Mitrokhin Archive]] investigators, the [[KGB]] has historically tried to use {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} (KGB codename VESTNIK, "messenger") for [[active measures|Soviet disinformation]] in the French media.<ref>[[Christopher Andrew (historian)|Christopher Andrew]], [[Vasili Mitrokhin]]: '' The Mitrokhin Archive. The KGB in Europe and the West''. London, Penguin Books 2000, {{ISBN|978-0-14-028487-4}}, p. 613.</ref>

In 1976, Michel Legris, a former ''Le Monde'' journalist, published ''Le Monde tel qu'il est'' (''Le Monde as it is''), a book critical of the newspaper. In 2003, another book titled ''La Face cachée du Monde'' (''The Hidden face of "Le Monde"''), written by [[Pierre Péan]] and Philippe Cohen, alleged that Colombani and then-editor [[Edwy Plenel]] had shown, amongst other things, [[partisan (political)|partisan]] [[bias]] and had engaged in financial dealings that compromised the paper's independence. The book remains controversial, but it attracted much attention and media coverage in France and worldwide at the time of its publication.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-22 |title=Mémoire d'un monde - "La Face cachée du Monde": le scandale médiatique qui secoua le journal |url=https://www.slate.fr/audio/memoire-dun-monde/face-cachee-du-monde-2003-scandale-mediatique-secoua-journal-colombani-2005-france-sarkozy |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Slate Audio |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-08-01 |title=Le jour où… Péan et Cohen accusent " Le Monde " |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/festival/article/2014/08/01/le-jour-ou-parait-la-face-cachee-du-monde_4465906_4415198.html |access-date=2025-08-31 |language=fr}}</ref>

In December 2004, on the 60th anniversary of its first publication, {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} moved into new headquarters in [[Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui]], [[13th arrondissement of Paris]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les immeubles du Monde |url=http://presse-paris.univ-paris1.fr/spip.php?article4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305014827/http://presse-paris.univ-paris1.fr/spip.php?article4 |archive-date=2008-03-05 |language=fr}}</ref> 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 doves (drawn by [[Plantu]]) flying towards [[Victor Hugo]], symbolising [[freedom of the press]]. In 2008, {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} was found guilty of defamation for saying that Spanish football club FC Barcelona was connected to a doctor involved in steroid use. The Spanish court fined the newspaper nearly $450,000.<ref>{{cite web|date=15 January 2008|title=Barcelona wins lawsuit against French newspaper Le Monde|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2008-01-15-572480161_x.htm|access-date=2 December 2013|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

In 2014, Groupe Le Monde announced that {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} would move into a new headquarters, also in the 13th arrondissement, around 2017, with space for 1,200 people.<ref>{{cite web|date=5 November 2014|title=Un nouveau siège social pour le journal "Le Monde" en 2017|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/medias/un-nouveau-siege-social-pour-le-journal-le-monde-en-2017_1619203.html|access-date=9 July 2016|work=[[L'Express]]|language=fr|agency=[[Agence France Presse]]}}</ref> In April 2016, two {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} reporters were denied visas to visit Algeria as part of the French Prime Minister press convoy to Algeria. The denial of visas to {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} reporters caused some French media to boycott the event, including ''Libération'', ''Le Figaro'', and ''[[France Inter]]''. {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} had previously published the names of Algerian officials directly involved with the [[Panama Papers]] scandal.<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 9, 2016|title=French media boycott Valls' Algiers visit|work=[[Deutsche Welle]]|url=https://www.dw.com/en/french-media-boycott-valls-algiers-visit/a-19176424|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=2016-04-08|title=Algeria bans French journalist in row over Panama Papers|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/algeria-france-dispute-idUSL5N17B41N|access-date=2021-10-08}}</ref> Coverage of the scandal in {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} included a front-page photo of President of Algeria [[Abdelaziz Bouteflika]].<ref name=":0" /> However, the paper clarified in its next edition that Bouteflika was not directly implicated, but maintained that his associates were. Bouteflika opened a [[libel suit]] against {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}}, which was later dropped after the newspaper apologised.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 20, 2017|title=Algeria leader drops Panama Papers libel suit vs Le Monde|work=[[Yahoo! News]]|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/algeria-leader-drops-panama-papers-libel-suit-vs-155151705.html|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref>

In June 2017, Le Monde was certified as an International Fact-Checking Network member of the [[Poynter Institute]].<ref>{{cite web |date=January 15, 2022 |url=https://ifcncodeofprinciples.poynter.org/profile/le-monde-les-decodeurs |title=Le Monde - Les Décodeurs |website=International Fact-Checking Network |publisher=Poynter Institute|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref>

In 2023, Le Monde banned [[fossil fuel]] advertising to tackle [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Noor |first=Dharna |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/jun/07/united-nations-fossil-fuel-ads-news-tech-media |title=News and tech media mostly quiet after UN chief calls for ban on ads for oil and gas |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 7, 2024 |access-date=September 21, 2024 }}</ref>

''{{Lang|fr|Le Monde}}'' is regarded as France's leading [[newspaper of record]].<ref>{{cite news |date=n.d. |title=France media guide |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17299010 |url-status=live |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619212843/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17299010 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Agnew |first=Harriet |date=18 March 2019 |title=Battle for future of France's Le Monde paper |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a1ec088a-3f55-11e9-9bee-efab61506f44 |url-status=live |language=en-GB |work=[[Financial Times]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220408005501/https://www.ft.com/content/a1ec088a-3f55-11e9-9bee-efab61506f44 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref> In November 2023, ''Le Monde'' joined with the [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists]], [[Paper Trail Media|Paper trail media]] and 69 media partners including [[Distributed Denial of Secrets]] and the [[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project]] (OCCRP) and more than 270 journalists in 55 countries and territories<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Inside Cyprus Confidential: The data-driven journalism that helped expose an island under Russian influence - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/leaked-data-journalism-methodology/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130214812/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/leaked-data-journalism-methodology/ |archive-date=2023-11-30 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=About the Cyprus Confidential investigation - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/about-cyprus-confidential-investigation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121093552/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/about-cyprus-confidential-investigation/ |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> to produce the '[[Cyprus Confidential]]' report on the financial network which supports the regime of [[Vladimir Putin]], mostly with connections to Cyprus, and showed Cyprus to have strong links with high-up figures in the Kremlin, some of whom have been sanctioned.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 November 2023 |title=Cyprus Confidential: Leaked Roman Abramovich documents raise fresh questions for Chelsea FC: ICIJ-led investigation reveals how Mediterranean island ignores Russian atrocities and western sanctions to cash in on Putin's oligarchs |language=en |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/2023/11/15/cyprus-confidential-leaked-roman-abramovich-documents-raise-fresh-questions-for-chelsea-fc/ |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 November 2023 |title=Cyprus Confidential - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/ |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=www.icij.org}}</ref> Government officials including Cyprus president [[Nikos Christodoulides]]<ref name=":72">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-15 |title=Cypriot president pledges government probe into Cyprus Confidential revelations - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cypriot-president-pledges-government-probe-into-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214203142/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cypriot-president-pledges-government-probe-into-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |archive-date=2023-12-14 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> and European lawmakers<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Lawmakers call for EU crackdown after ICIJ’s Cyprus Confidential revelations - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/lawmakers-call-for-eu-crackdown-after-icijs-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224114123/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/lawmakers-call-for-eu-crackdown-after-icijs-cyprus-confidential-revelations/ |archive-date=2023-12-24 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> began responding to the investigation's findings in less than 24 hours,<ref name=":72"/> calling for reforms and launching probes.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Cyprus ignores Russian atrocities, Western sanctions to shield vast wealth of Putin allies - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cyprus-russia-eu-secrecy-tax-haven/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214002320/https://www.icij.org/investigations/cyprus-confidential/cyprus-russia-eu-secrecy-tax-haven/ |archive-date=2023-12-14 |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Solutions |first=BDigital Web |title=Finance Minister perturbed over 'Cyprus Confidential' |url=https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/finance-minister-perturbed-over-cyprus-confidential |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224114126/https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/finance-minister-perturbed-over-cyprus-confidential |archive-date=2023-12-24 |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=knews.com.cy}}</ref>

==Ownership==
In June 2010, investors [[Matthieu Pigasse]], [[Pierre Bergé]], and [[Xavier Niel]] acquired a controlling stake in the newspaper.<ref name="Willsher2010"/> In October 2018, staff learned that Pigasse had sold 49% of his stake in the company to Czech businessman [[Daniel Křetínský]]. {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}}'s Independency Group, a minority shareholder that aims to protect the paper's [[editorial independence]], had not been informed of the sale, and asked Pigasse and Křetínský to sign an "approval agreement" that would give the Independency Group the right to approve or reject any controlling shareholder. {{As of|2019|09}}, they had not done so.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Willsher |first1=Kim |title=Le Monde journalists warn of threat to editorial independence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/10/le-monde-journalists-warn-of-threat-to-editorial-independence |access-date=13 September 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=10 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=" We, "Le Monde" journalists... " |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2019/09/10/we-le-monde-journalists_5508610_3236.html |access-date=13 September 2019 |work=Le Monde |date=10 September 2019}}</ref>

==Publication schedule==
{{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} is published around midday, and the [[cover 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 France on the day of release and received by mail subscribers on the masthead date. The Saturday issue is a double one, for Saturday and Sunday, thus the latest edition can be found on newsstands from Monday to Friday included, while subscribers will receive it from Tuesday to Saturday.

== LeMonde.fr ==
{{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} was among the first French newspapers on the web, with its first web edition on 19 December 1995.<ref>Claire Hemery, "Quand la presse française s'emparait du web", ''La revue des médias'', Institut national de l'audiovisuel, [https://larevuedesmedias.ina.fr/quand-la-presse-francaise-semparait-du-web 19 December 2013]</ref> It is among the 50 most visited websites in France.<ref>[https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/FR Top sites in France] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525145632/https://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/FR |date=25 May 2019 }} - Alexa Rank</ref> Starting in the 2000s {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} allowed its subscribers to publish a blog on its website. These blogs were called the "les blogs abonnées du Monde.fr". On 10 April 2019, {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} announced that it would be closing its blog platform on 5 June 2019.<ref name="paysages1">{{cite web|url = http://cneffpaysages.blog.lemonde.fr/2019/04/14/la-fin-annoncee-des-blogs-abonnees-du-monde-fr-la-fin-du-blog-paysages-sur-les-blogs-lemonde-fr/|title = La fin annoncée des blogs abonnées du Monde.fr, la fin du blog paysages sur les blogs leMonde.fr|date = 14 April 2019|publisher = Blogs le Monde on [[LeMonde.fr]]|access-date = 11 May 2019|language = fr|archive-date = 4 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190504204009/http://cneffpaysages.blog.lemonde.fr/2019/04/14/la-fin-annoncee-des-blogs-abonnees-du-monde-fr-la-fin-du-blog-paysages-sur-les-blogs-lemonde-fr/|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="biosphere">{{cite web|url = http://biosphere.blog.lemonde.fr/2019/04/14/le-monde-supprime-tous-les-blogs-quil-heberge/|title = Le Monde supprime tous les blogs qu'il héberge|date = 14 April 2019|publisher = Blogs le Monde on [[LeMonde.fr]]|access-date = 11 May 2019|language = fr|archive-date = 17 April 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190417040416/http://biosphere.blog.lemonde.fr/2019/04/14/le-monde-supprime-tous-les-blogs-quil-heberge/|url-status = dead}}</ref> Although the reasons for the closing of the blogs were unclear, it could be linked to the dominance of social networks like Facebook.<ref name="paysages2">{{cite web |url = http://cneffpaysages.blog.lemonde.fr/2019/04/23/la-fin-du-blog-paysages-sur-les-blogs-lemonde-fr-das-ende-des-blog-paysages-auf-den-blogs-von-le-monde-fr/ |title = La fin du blog paysages sur les blogs LeMonde.fr – Das Ende des Blog " paysages " auf den Blogs von Le Monde.fr |date = 23 April 2019 |publisher = Blogs le Monde on [[LeMonde.fr]] |access-date = 11 May 2019 |language = fr, de |archive-date = 4 May 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190504093726/http://cneffpaysages.blog.lemonde.fr/2019/04/23/la-fin-du-blog-paysages-sur-les-blogs-lemonde-fr-das-ende-des-blog-paysages-auf-den-blogs-von-le-monde-fr/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} launched an English language edition of its news website on 7 April 2022, featuring its articles translated from French.<ref name="AFP English">{{cite web |title=Le Monde launches digital English language edition, partly translated by AI |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/apr/07/le-monde-launches-digital-english-language-edition-partly-translated-by-ai |publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]] |access-date=8 April 2022 |language=en |date=7 April 2022 |via=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg English">{{cite news |last1=Berthelot |first1=Benoit |title=Le Monde Launches English Website on Eve of French Election |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-07/le-monde-launches-english-website-on-eve-of-french-election |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=7 April 2022 |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref>

== Social media presence ==
On January 20, 2025, ''Le Monde'' announced its withdrawal from the social network [[Twitter|X]] (formerly Twitter), citing the "intensification of activism" by its owner [[Elon Musk]] and the "growing toxicity of discussions" on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |work=Le Figaro |date=20 January 2025 |title=Le journal Le Monde quitte à son tour le réseau social X |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/le-journal-le-monde-quitte-a-son-tour-le-reseau-social-x-20250120 }}</ref> The editorial team emphasized that, although difficult, this decision aligns with their commitment to preserving editorial independence and avoiding contributing to an environment harmful to public debate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Le Monde |date=14 January 2025 |title=" En quittant X, nous avons bien conscience de nous priver d’un canal de communication pour valoriser nos actions, nos combats " |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2025/01/14/en-quittant-x-nous-avons-bien-conscience-de-nous-priver-d-un-canal-de-communication-pour-valoriser-nos-actions-nos-combats_6497667_3232.html}}</ref>

== Politics ==
In 1981, {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} backed the election of socialist [[François Mitterrand]], partly on the grounds that the alternation of the political party in government would be beneficial to the democratic character of the state.<ref>{{cite magazine |author-link=Rodney Benson |last=Benson |first=Rodney |date=Spring 2004 |url=http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/uploads/000/731/Benson%20le%20monde%20best%20copy.pdf |title=La fin du ''Monde''? Tradition and Change in the French press |magazine=[[French Politics, Culture & Society]] |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=108–126 [p. 111, and footnote 13, pp. 123–124] |via=[[New York University]] |access-date=31 January 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211001312/https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/uploads/000/731/Benson%20le%20monde%20best%20copy.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The paper endorsed centre-right candidate [[Édouard Balladur]] in the [[1995 French presidential election]], and [[Ségolène Royal]], the Socialist Party candidate, in the [[2007 French presidential election]].

==Directors==
* [[Hubert Beuve-Méry]] (1944–1969)
* [[Jacques Fauvet]] (1969–1981)
* [[Claude Julien (journalist)|Claude Julien]] (1981–1982)
* André Laurens (1982–1985)
* [[André Fontaine]] (1985–1991)
* [[Jacques Lesourne]] (1991–1994)
* [[Jean-Marie Colombani]] (1994–2007)
* [[Éric Fottorino]] (2007–2010)
* [[Érik Izraelewicz]] (2011–2012)
* [[Alain Frachon]] (2012–2013)
* [[Natalie Nougayrède]] (2013–2014)
* [[Jérôme Fenoglio]] (since 2014)

==Circulation history since 1999==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! 1999 !! 2000 !! 2001 !! 2002 !! 2003 !! 2004 !! 2005 !! 2006 !! 2007 !! 2008 !! 2009 !! 2010 !! 2011
|-
| Circulation
| {{formatnum:325295}} || {{formatnum:390840}} || {{formatnum:392772}} || {{formatnum:405983}} || {{formatnum:407069}} || {{formatnum:389249}} || {{formatnum:371803}} || {{formatnum:360610}} || {{formatnum:350039}} || {{formatnum:358655}} || {{formatnum:340131}} || {{formatnum:323039}} || {{formatnum:319022}} 
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! 2022 !! 2023
|- 
| Circulation
| {{formatnum:318236}} || {{formatnum:303432}} || {{formatnum:298529}} || {{formatnum:292054}} || {{formatnum:289555}} || {{formatnum:301528}} || {{formatnum:302624}} || {{formatnum:325565}} || {{formatnum:393109}} || {{formatnum:445894}} || {{formatnum:472767}} || {{formatnum:488802}}
|}

==Prix littéraire du ''Monde''==
The '''Prix littéraire du ''Monde''''' has been awarded annually by {{Lang|fr|Le Monde}} since 2013. It is awarded at the beginning of September to a [[novel]] published at the start of the French literary season—or "rentrée littéraire". The winner of the prize is chosen by a jury made up of journalists—literary journalists from ''Le Monde des livres'', cultural or other editorial staff—chaired by the director of the newspaper.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Jean |date=8 September 2015 |title=''Le Monde'' remet son prix littéraire |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2015/09/09/le-monde-remet-son-prix-litteraire_4749640_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>

===Winners===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | 
! scope="col" | Author
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Publisher
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference}}
|-
| 2013
| [[File:Yasmina Reza at XIII Prix Diálogo - Ceremonia de entrega.jpg|40px]]
| [[Yasmina Reza]]
| ''Heureux les heureux''
| [[Éditions Stock]]
| <ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Jean |date=22 May 2013 |title=Les livres du "Monde" |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2013/05/22/les-livres-du-monde_3415654_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2014
| [[File:Emmanuel Carrère redux.jpg|40px]]
| [[Emmanuel Carrère]]
| ''[[The Kingdom (Carrère novel)|Le Royaume]]''
| [[Éditions P.O.L]]
| <ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2014 |title=''Le Royaume'' d'Emmanuel Carrère reçoit le prix littéraire du ''Monde'' |language=fr |work=[[Libération]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |url=https://www.liberation.fr/culture/2014/09/10/le-royaume-d-emmanuel-carrere-recoit-le-prix-litteraire-du-monde_1097850/ |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| [[File:Agnès_Desarthe_(2018).jpg|40px]]
| [[Agnès Desarthe]]
| ''Ce cœur changeant''
| [[Éditions de l'Olivier]]
| <ref>{{Cite news |date=9 September 2015 |title=''Ce cœur changeant'' d'Agnès Desarthe, prix littéraire du ''Monde'' 2015 |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2015/09/10/ce-c-ur-changeant-d-agnes-desarthe-prix-litteraire-du-monde-2015_4750503_3260.html |access-date=10 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2016
| [[File:Jablonka au festival de Brive 2016.jpg|40px]]
| [[Ivan Jablonka]]
| ''Laëtitia ou la Fin des hommes''
| [[Éditions du Seuil]]
| <ref>{{Cite news |last=Loret |first=Eric |date=7 September 2016 |title=''Le Monde'' remet son prix littéraire à ''Laëtitia ou la Fin des hommes'' d'Ivan Jablonka |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2016/09/07/ivan-jablonka-un-historien-qui-recoit-un-prix-litteraire-cela-peut-surprendre_4994172_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2017
| [[File:Paris - Salon du livre 2013 - Alice Zeniter - 001.jpg|40px]]
| [[Alice Zeniter]]
| ''L'Art de perdre''
| [[Éditions Flammarion]]
| <ref>{{Cite news |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Jean |last2=Leyris |first2=Raphaëlle |date=6 September 2017 |title=''Le Monde'' remet son prix littéraire à Alice Zeniter pour ''L'Art de perdre'' |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2017/09/06/le-monde-remet-son-prix-litteraire-a-alice-zeniter-pour-l-art-de-perdre_5181957_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2018
| [[File:Jérôme Ferrari 2010 (crop).jpg|40px]]
| [[Jérôme Ferrari]]
| ''À son image''
| [[Actes Sud]]
| <ref>{{Cite news |last1=Birnbaum |first1=Jean |last2=Leyris |first2=Raphaëlle |date=5 September 2018 |title=''Le Monde'' remet son prix littéraire à Jérôme Ferrari pour ''A son image'' |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2018/09/05/le-monde-remet-son-prix-litteraire-a-jerome-ferrari-pour-a-son-image_5350791_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
| [[File:Cécile Coulon redux.jpg|40px]]
| [[Cécile Coulon]]
| ''Une bête au paradis''
| Éditions de l'Iconoclaste
| <ref>{{Cite news |last1=Leyris |first1=Raphaëlle |last2=Birnbaum |first2=Jean |date=4 November 2019 |title=''Le Monde'' remet son prix littéraire à Cécile Coulon pour ''Une bête au Paradis'' |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2019/09/04/le-monde-remet-son-prix-litteraire-a-cecile-coulon-pour-une-bete-au-paradis_5506468_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| [[File:Francesca Serra (2020).png|40px]]
| Francesca Serra
| ''Elle a menti pour les ailes''
| Éditions Anne Carrière
| <ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Jean |date=7 September 2020 |title=Francesca Serra, Prix littéraire ''Le Monde'' 2020 : "Aller voir les monstres d'angoisse qu'il y a dans les profondeurs de la superficialité" |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2020/09/07/francesca-serra-prix-litteraire-le-monde-2020-aller-voir-les-monstres-d-angoisse-qu-il-y-a-dans-les-profondeurs-de-la-superficialite_6051304_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 2021
| [[File:Jean-Claude Grumberg par Claude Truong-Ngoc novembre 2013.jpg|40px]]
| [[Jean-Claude Grumberg]]
| ''Jacqueline Jacqueline''
| Éditions du Seuil
| <ref>{{Cite news |last=Weill |first=Nicolas |date=8 September 2021 |title=Jean-Claude Grumberg remporte le prix littéraire ''Le Monde'' 2021 pour ''Jacqueline Jacqueline'' |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2021/09/08/jean-claude-grumberg-remporte-le-prix-litteraire-le-monde-2021-pour-jacqueline-jacqueline_6093944_3260.html |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|
|Mathieu Belezi
|''Attaquer la terre et le soleil''
|Le Tripode
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-07 |title=Mathieu Belezi remporte le prix littéraire « Le Monde » 2022 pour « Attaquer la terre et le soleil » |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2022/09/07/mathieu-belezi-remporte-le-prix-litteraire-le-monde-2022-pour-attaquer-la-terre-et-le-soleil_6140619_3260.html |access-date=2023-11-02}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|[[File:Neige Sinno.jpg|40px]]
|Neige Sinno
|''Triste Tigre''
|Éditions P.O.L
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-06 |title=Neige Sinno remporte le prix littéraire « Le Monde » 2023 pour « Triste tigre » |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2023/09/06/neige-sinno-remporte-le-prix-litteraire-le-monde-2023-pour-triste-tigre_6188164_3260.html |access-date=2023-11-02}}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Journalism|France}}
* [[List of French newspapers]]
* ''[[El País]]'', newspaper in Spain inspired by ''Le Monde''
* [[Jean-Louis de Rambures]], French journalist (1930–2006)
* [[Henri Pierre]], French journalist (1918–1994)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Merrill, John C.; Harold A. Fisher (1980). ''The world's great dailies: profiles of fifty newspapers''. pp.&nbsp;202–10.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.lemonde.fr}} {{in lang|fr}}
* {{URL|https://www.lemonde.fr/en/|English edition}}

{{Newspapers in France}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monde, Le}}
[[Category:1944 establishments in France]]
[[Category:French news websites]]
[[Category:Centre-left newspapers]]
[[Category:Daily newspapers published in France]]
[[Category:Liberal media in France]]
[[Category:Liberal socialism]]
[[Category:Newspapers published in Paris]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1944]]
[[Category:Social democratic media]]