Le Figaro

Le Figaro is a news paper from France.

It is very old. It started in the year 1826. It was first a weekly paper. Later, it became a daily paper.

It has many famous writers. The paper has a special motto. It says we must be free to criticize. This helps us give true praise. It is the second largest paper in its land.

People still read it today.

Le Figaro is a famous daily newspaper in France. It is the oldest national paper in that country.

It began in 1826 as a weekly paper. It became a daily paper in 1866. On its first day as a daily, it sold 56,000 copies. This was the highest number for any French paper then.

The name comes from a character in plays by Pierre Beaumarchais. The paper has a special motto. It says that we must be free to criticize. Without this freedom, we cannot give true praise. Many famous writers have worked there. These writers include Émile Zola and Marcel Proust.

Today, the Dassault Group owns the paper. It is the second-largest national newspaper in France. It is now a Berliner format paper. This is a specific size for newsprint. The paper also has a large website. It helps people read news online every day.

Le Figaro is a very important daily newspaper in France. It is the oldest national newspaper in the country. People often call it a newspaper of record. This means it is a trusted source for important news. It is the second-largest national newspaper in France, following Le Monde.

The paper has a center-right editorial stance. This describes its political viewpoint. It often speaks for the French upper and middle classes. The headquarters is located on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris.

The paper has a very interesting way it works. It began as a weekly paper that was satirical. This means it used humor to poke fun at people in power. In 1866, it changed into a daily newspaper.

On its first day as a daily, it sold 56,000 copies. This was the highest number for any newspaper in France at that time. Today, it uses the Berliner format. This is a specific size for printing newspapers. It also has a large website called lefigaro.fr. This site allows people to read news online every day.

The history of the paper is filled with famous names. It was named after Figaro, a character from plays by Pierre Beaumarchais. These plays include Le Barbier de Séville and Le Mariage de Figaro. One line from these plays became the paper's motto. It says that without the freedom to criticize, there is no flattering praise. Many great writers have worked for the paper. These include Émile Zola, Marcel Proust, and Anatole France.

Many different people and groups have owned the paper over the years. In 1922, a perfume millionaire named François Coty purchased it. He briefly changed the name to just Figaro in 1929. In 1975, the paper was bought by Robert Hersant's Socpresse. Since 2004, the Dassault Group has owned the paper. Serge Dassault controls it through his company, Groupe Figaro. He also owns Dassault Aviation, a company that makes aircraft. The paper has even published a supplement of The New York Times International Weekly.

You can see how Le Figaro connects to many parts of life. It is not just a single paper, but a large group. This group includes Le Figaro Magazine and TV Magazine. It also sponsors the Solitaire du Figaro sailing race. The paper provides many special sections for different interests. There are sections for economy, culture, and even students. It even sold volumes of the Encyclopædia Universalis as supplements. This shows how much information the paper tries to share with its readers.

Le Figaro is a major French daily newspaper. It is the oldest national newspaper in France. Many people call it a newspaper of record. This means it is a trusted source for important news. It is the second-largest national newspaper in the country. Currently, Le Monde holds the position of the largest. Le Figaro maintains a center-right editorial stance. This viewpoint often represents the French upper and middle classes. The newspaper is headquartered on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.

The paper began as a satirical weekly in 1826. It took its name from Figaro, a character in plays by Pierre Beaumarchais. These plays include Le Barbier de Séville and Le Mariage de Figaro. The paper's motto comes from a line in the play Le Mariage de Figaro. The motto is "Sans la liberté de blâmer, il n'est point d'éloge flatteur." This translates to "Without the freedom to criticise, there is no flattering praise." The paper was published somewhat irregularly for many years. In 1854, Hippolyte de Villemessant took over the publication. By 1866, it had transitioned into a daily newspaper. Its first daily edition on 16 November 1866 sold 56,000 copies. This was the highest circulation for any newspaper in France at that time.

Throughout its history, many famous writers have contributed to the paper. These include Émile Zola, Anatole France, and Marcel Proust. Other notable names include François Mauriac and Raymond Aron. The paper has also been part of significant cultural moments. In 1909, it published a manifesto by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. This manifesto started the Futurism movement in art. However, the paper's history also includes moments of great tension. In 1833, editor Nestor Roqueplan fought a duel with Colonel Gallois. In 1914, the editor Gaston Calmette was assassinated by Henriette Caillaux. This happened after he published a letter questioning her husband's integrity.

Ownership of Le Figaro has changed many times. In 1922, the perfume millionaire François Coty purchased the paper. He briefly renamed it simply Figaro from 1929 to 1933. In 1975, Robert Hersant's Socpresse bought the publication. In 1999, The Carlyle Group bought a 40% stake. They later sold that stake in March 2002. Since 2004, the Dassault Group has controlled the newspaper. Serge Dassault owns 80% of the paper through Groupe Figaro. This ownership has caused some controversy regarding potential conflicts of interest. Serge Dassault also runs Dassault Aviation, a major military supplier. He has stated that newspapers should promote "healthy ideas."

In 2012, the journalists at the paper faced internal conflict. A general assembly of journalists accused the managing editor, Étienne Mougeotte, of bias. They claimed the paper acted like a bulletin for the governing party. They wanted more honesty and political pluralism in their reporting. Mougeotte defended the paper's editorial line. He argued that the right-wing stance pleased their readers. The paper uses the Berliner format for its print editions. This change to the specific size occurred in 2009. The paper also publishes a supplement of The New York Times International Weekly.

Le Figaro has expanded into many different specialized areas. The Groupe Figaro includes Le Figaro Magazine and TV Magazine. It also features many daily supplements for different readers. For example, Le Figaro Économie focuses on business. Le Figaro et vous covers culture and lifestyle. There are also sections for students and literature. The group even sponsors the Solitaire du Figaro sailing race. It has also used its platform to host debates through FigaroVox. These various parts help the group reach many different types of people.

The newspaper has also grown a massive digital presence. The website lefigaro.fr has existed since 1999. In 2008, it became a leading news site on the internet. In 2011, it won the title of "Best Mobile Media." The site reached a record of 11 million unique visitors in 2013. In 2015, the company launched Figaro Premium. This is a paid service for digital readers. By 2017, the paper had 80,000 digital subscribers. By 2019, it had 130,000 digital subscribers. The number of subscribers grew even further by November 2021. This digital growth shows how the paper adapts to new technology.