Wednesday, October 08, 2008

The world according to Le Monde


Le Monde is one of the leading French national newspapers even though its certified circulation only amounts to 316 851 copies (it amounted to 800 000 copies in 1968!). Its original location was rue des Italiens in the 9th arrondissement; this address was so famous that sometimes Le Monde was referred to as "the daily paper from rue des Italiens". Because of its financial problems, however, Le Monde had to move to cheaper places in Paris - and in the suburbs. Its latest location is here, where I took this photo, at Boulevard Auguste Blanqui, in the 13th arrondissement. I'm told it's a very nice building inside (designed by famous architect Christian de Portzamparc). More - in French - here.

58 comments:

  1. Is Le Monde considered a more conservative paper?

    I love the photo - is it a mosaic?

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  2. I imagine that many daily newspapers are feeling the pressures of decreased revenues because of everything being so easily available on the internet. It's sad. I love reading an actual newspaper - it's a lifesaver on public transport.

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  3. Great shot, Eric! (As usual.) American newspapers are suffering, as Buzzgirl says. I just heard today that the LA Times is considering more cuts and there have been a lot already. Maybe newspapers are about to go the way of dial telephones.

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  4. WOW!! Now that's an impressive display.

    As usual, Eric, you give us something awe-inspiring!

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  5. I have always noticed this building because it is near the hotel I stay at in CDG. I just never realized that is the official office of Le Monde till now. I consider this area "nowheresville" even tho it is near the catacombs and have grown to love it Auguste Blanque, but I never considered the area a type of Fleet Street.

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  6. Oh! I see that it is just windows (I almost always forget to click on the photo to enlarge!)

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  7. Agreed.I really love the 'font' of Le Monde.The coloring of the building is really gorgeous.I like how the mural of the world is on the building as well.

    What the bird represent though?
    oh and nice perspective!

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  8. I get the paper, but never EVER have time to sit and read through it. Nonetheless, I keep the subscription current. My darling guinea pig sure would miss his daily edition.

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  9. I am guilty of canceling my newspaper, because I can go online and read it free. And don't have to deal with all the advertisements. And another thing I don't have to get rid of all the old papers. And another tree lives~~~

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  10. Buzzgirl, I believe "Le Monde" is the equivalent of the New York Times (?)

    As to whether it is conservative or not, I guess that depends who you ask? ;)

    When I was a kit I considered it somewhat conservative, but not right wing. I don't know what it's become now. I still read it online from time to time, especially when something big happens here in the States and I want someone other than Rupert Murdoch to tell me what is going on, but I don't read it enough to answer the question quite accurately.

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  11. oops, I meant when I was a kiD (not a kiT).

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  12. Eric, I saw the little addendum yesterday. Sorry I can't help you with jokes about the stock market. We could probably use some, right about now, to lighten up the mood. The DOW took another beating today and a lot of people are scared sh..tless.

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  13. Does anybody know if Rupert Murdoch has finally acquired the NYT? There was some talk about that, recently. Just curious.

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  14. Excuse me, but I need all the luck I can get, so if you don't mind, I"ll throw in this one comment, so I don't end on the 13th ;)

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  15. The money problems are scary. The prospect of a certain person being a heartbeat away from the Presidency is frightening. But nothing is more terrifying to me than the possibility of Rupert Murdoch owning more media outlets, particularly the New York Times.

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  16. This picture makes me miss Paris so much, as it was a daily fixture for me each time I've been to Paris, since (except for the very first time, which was only for a few days) I have stayed quite near by it and would see it from the metro everyday...

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  17. I love this building, the mural is awesome!
    It's sad to see the newspapers having such trouble, same here in the US
    I don't like to read my paper online, same with books. I prefer to hold a book or paper that I am reading. I can only read brief snippets online.

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  18. Very nice "outfit" for the building. Is it permanent or just temporary ? Cheers, Loic

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  19. It's a great photo. Most newspapers seem to have dwindled in readership. As someone said before, it's due to the internet reading I think, but I personally much prefer the hard copy paper to read. I used to read Le Monde. What a fantastic sky that is, by the way!

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  20. Great that they put up a monument to Greg! When will Lance get his?
    ;-)

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  21. What a unique facade. I enlarged the photo and still can't tell if the smaller type is permanently there or if it is a temporary piece.

    It looks like it was a beautiful day in Paris!

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  22. So all of the writing is on the side of the building? Very cool!

    FYI, I have moved to Baltimore Maryland, and you will see www.bwidailyphoto.com show up on the city site. I do think I messed up the RSS feed however, and don't see a way to correct it. Can you check that out for me?

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  23. This made me smile — the building even looks like a newspaper!

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  24. I love murals!! It is gorgeous. Very nicely done and very nicely shot as well, Eric!


    Ooh, it is good to be back home!

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  25. I love the façade of this building, how creative!

    I'm lucky enough to get Le Monde everyday, and sometimes Le Figaro too. But I prefer Le Monde and I must say I enjoy its reports about culture, fashion and sports. I can't tell if it's conservative or not, but it's nice to have access to it anyway.

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  26. Nice pun, Mister Earl. Thanks for the chuckle.

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  27. The front of the building is basically just a huge piece of glass, quite impressive and a little scary !!

    The drawings and text are dedicated to "la liberté de la Presse" : the world (for the name of the newspaper, two doves, designed by Plantu for the peace and a text from Victor Hugo.

    I must admit that it is one of the very few locations in Paris where I wish there were less trees, it would be easier to read the text.

    Anyway, the 13ème arrondissement may be a cheaper and not so prestigious part of Paris, it is nevertheless a very pleasant one, with a lot to see and hours of walk :
    la Butte aux cailles, les Gobelins, le Quartier Chinois,la BNF, la Cité Universataire Internationale, les Réservoirs, la Salpétrière, la petite Alsace, la cité florale, lots of 20th century architecture....
    I may be wrong but I think it is the arrondissement with the biggest number of traditional houses. Quite rare in Paris !

    Sorry for this long comment but I just can't help "promoting" my arondissement !!!

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  28. I believe the online version of LeMonde has won more awards for their internet graphics etc. than any other newspaper. At least that is what I have been told as I am not a "techie". I find it so funny to see it online in color each day. When I was young it was a big, big paper and all in black and white[like all papers at that time]but if I remember correctly, LeMonde never had any photographs...only drawings or illustrations. Perhaps I'm wrong, as the state of the world has me in a cloud lately!! What a mess!!

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  29. What a fascinating bit of Parisian history and economics, Eric. Aussi merci Marlene for your commentary. It's cool to read about the 13eme arrond. from someone who lives and breathes there daily. BTW...I've decided to go formal in my profile photo for a while. I'm feeling studious these days. ;-)

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  30. Tout Le Monde est un stade!
    And its building is a production!

    (Did I translate this properly?)

    I love this building. Maybe I need to visit the 13th next time. Ah, but I need a tour guide. Ou est notre Reine?

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  31. But maybe Ms. Bonaparte will guide me, since her hotel is near. (Hey, phx, isn't the 13th a heck of a long way from CDG?

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  32. Beautiful picture; thank you!

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  33. Bonjour,

    Interesting photograph. I must admit that I read several newspapers online. I still prefer reading a book the old fashion way. But the Kindle is calling.
    - Kaci

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  34. Jeff you are so right!Sometimes during the week, the bus ride takes 2 HOURS from CDG to Auguste Blanque! Sat and Sun are quick.

    I can't add much more to what Marylene said other than rue Daguerre and the outdoor mkt on A.Blanque.It is well worth seeing this other Paris, not crawling with tourists.
    Marylene: my favorite sign in the area is S.A.D.Decor. Have you seen it? It cracks me up everytime.(And I already mentioned Chez DUNG in the past)
    Rupert M. possibly buying the NYT? Send me to Elba now.

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  35. CL - Is that the famous J. Garcia tie?

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  36. Before I tell you this story I must say I don't speak French.

    When I was young, (and stupid) I used to buy Le Monde so I could pretend to read it on the train. Now and again I would laugh a little or nod in an attempt to make it more realistic in case my fellow passangers didn't realise I could (not) read French.

    What an idiot hey?!!

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  37. As for the photography, this is one of those pictures that you wish you had taken yourself, or in my case knew how to!

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  38. Bonjour de Dublin.

    Your blog is really interesting.

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  39. The Australian dollar has just hit a five year low - so, sadly, this may be my only view of "le monde" for quite some time. Then again, as George Orwell proved, time spent being down and out in Paris can, if artfully chronicled, be turned to good advantage.

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  40. Lucio
    That is an excellent point!

    And when are you going to allow us back in your blog and what have you been writing that we can't read? I NEED to know!!!!

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  41. I haven't been adding to it at all, Rose, but I'll certainly send you an invitation to be a 'Voltaire's Monkey' reader, now that I know you're interested.

    I'm planning on starting a new blog soon, which will be open to everyone. To do that, however, I'll need to survive the next few weeks...

    Hope you are well - and happy.

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  42. PS: Eric, your 2009 calendar is superb! (I prefer the b&w version.)

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  43. Here is a quick ("semi-automatic")translation of what's behind Eric's link about this building:

    In December 2004, 60 years after the first issue, Le Monde is made for the first time on its new site, 80 Boulevard Auguste Blanqui (XIII), between the Butte aux Cailles and the Chinese district. The move will be commented by the press: a controversy erupts around the working conditions of people hired by the building Cy.
    Ultra modern, this glass "liner" designed by Christian de Portzamparc features a facade where doves drawn by Plantu
    (a famous French cartoonist, who draws everyday in Le Monde) fly towards verses of Victor Hugo, in tribute to the freedom of the press.
    But the building did not immediately appeal the staff: the ceilings were "too low", there was not enough parking, premises were non-smokers.

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  44. Beautiful photo, Eric.

    I make no comment on coltrane's new photo so as to not sound ...like me!

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  45. US Elaine...you are so observant. I am sporting the Garcia. Perhaps Alexa and her brother are checking in from time to time. ;-)

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  46. Rose that is hilarious! I find it touching. Very sweet. Things we do when younger huh? Such a funny image, that is, I love it.

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  47. An ex boyfriend, musician, had told his band that he was fluent in German and French, knowing none of them could speak it. He kept this going for years! Suddenly the band decided they wanted a section (middle eight, is it?) of the latest written song to be in French. Panic! He went home early with man flu and got on the phone to me quickly, when I wrote a small piece and tutored him with as good an accent as I was able. Perhaps they still think it, who knows? ! lol. Rose you are not alone!

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  48. I really like this building. And I like Le Monde too! I always wondered if the drawing was from Plantu...
    There is a shop inside where you can find some nice DVDs and all the old numbers, and that's nice for studies researches.

    Tonton flaneur, Le Monde has color pictures now! And the size of the paper is still quite big.
    One of the things I like when I read it, is to have ink on the fingers. What about an online newspaper?! ;)

    Tomate "As to whether it is conservative or not, I guess that depends who you ask? ;)" So, it's not a conservative paper. At all. LOL

    "Le Monde n'est pas sarkozyste, il est journaliste".(Fottorino,chief editor)
    A little more than the half of the readers are from the left wing, a little less than the half are from the right one. To me, Le Monde is above all an objective newspaper (or at least, much more than Le Figaro or Libération).

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  49. Ah, Mme. Bonaparte, n'allez pas a l'Elba. Paris et mieux.

    You take a bus from CDG to the hotel? Wouldn't the RER be faster to Denfert Rochereau, then Metro 6 or a cab? I'm guessing the bus fare is paid by the airline.

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  50. Merci, Marylène for all that great info on the 13ème arrondissement. Please don't apologise, it was very informative.

    Rose, What a little darling actress you were, "Now and again I would laugh a little or nod in an attempt to make it more realistic..." LOL

    Thib, Merci for the info on this building.

    I don't have a thing to add; everyone has said it, and even more than I would have thought of myself. You are all fabulous!

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  51. beautiful picture!! i work for the Los Angeles Times & can relate to the depression of decreased circulation with increased internet access!!

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  52. Marylène a dit...

    Thanks for explaining what everything means.Without clicking on the photo and enlarging it.The building does look like a huge mosiac or mural.

    So thank you :)

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  53. And Lois said everything I wanted to say!
    Rose, that was a triple LOL.
    Yes, Jeff, the airline pays for a special bus for us. If we ever took the RER, we would miss our stop due to all the sleeping!

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  54. Buzzgirl > Le Monde is center left. I don't think it's a mosaic, but I don't know exactly what it's made of...

    Petrea > "Maybe newspapers are about to go the way of dial telephones." LOL (well sort of...) You're right.

    PHX "but I never considered the area a type of Fleet Street." No it's not really Fleet street, you're right! Where Le Monde was located before (rue des Italiens) was much more similar to Fleet street. Things change...

    Anonymous "What the bird represent though?". It's the symbol of a famous cartoonist that draws a cartoon every day in Le Monde in which there is often this bird

    Tomate "Sorry I can't help you with jokes about the stock market." No worries, several people have been kind enough to provide me with some. I did not have the time to thank them yet.

    Loic "Is it permanent or just temporary ? " VERY permanent!

    Lynn "What a fantastic sky that is, by the way!" Yeah, but it's gone now!!

    Marylène "Sorry for this long comment but I just can't help "promoting" my arrondissement !!!" LOL. You did that VERY well Marylène!

    Tonton "if I remember correctly, LeMonde never had any photographs...only drawings or illustrations." Not anymore. They have photos now...

    Coltrane ".I've decided to go formal in my profile photo for a while. I'm feeling studious these days. ;-)" Formal it is!

    Rose. LOL. I loooooove your story. The things you do when you're young...

    Tales... from Dublin. Merci ;)

    Lucio "The Australian dollar has just hit a five year low " Sorry to hear that. But, on the other end, as I plan to visit Australia next year, I cannot say this is too much of a bad news for me ;) (Sorry!)

    Merci pour la traduction Thib ;)

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  55. Hey Eric, you should really go over to Adelaide Daily Photo - les Benauts have posted some gorgeous shots of Paree.

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  56. Rose, I adore you. That story couldn't be sweeter.

    Lindsay R.T., I hear the atmosphere at the LA Times is kinda low these days. Nice to see you here where things are fun. I like the banner photo on your blog.

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  57. Gosh Eric, you bring up such a feeling of another era for me in this photograph. In 1968 everything for me was French language influenced. I was taking French in school for the first time (and getting Ds!), Le Monde was always available in our classroom and I would pick it up to look at front page photos of Parisian students protesting in the streets, Pierre Trudeau of French speaking Quebec Province was Prime Minister of Canada and the World's Fair had just been held in Montreal (which several of my friends went to and brought me souvenirs). It seems Le Monde was THE newspaper of "the world" ;^) and everyone was speaking French. It seemed so cosmopolitan from my little Cali beach town and opened up a great big world to see.
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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