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Parisians don’t really trust the media.
They are media addicts. But they know better than to trust the media. There is one exception to that rule: Le Monde. Le Monde is a French newspaper. It is to the Parisian the one and only reliable source of information on Earth.
No other country could ever achieve the level of independence and intellectual sharpness the French press offers consistently on a daily basis. In the Parisian’s mind, news overseas can only be obtained through four channels: CNN, Al Jazeera, Fox News and English tabloids. None of these are trustworthy. That is sadly all foreigners have access to. The Parisian feels a certain satisfaction from the fact that France is the only country in the world with actual newspapers.
The Parisian is too educated not to know that amongst French newspapers, very few are actually worth his time. “Libération, c’est hyper à gauche; Le Figaro, c’est hyper à droite droite; L’Equipe, ça va, j’suis pas un beauf non plus”. The Parisian wants the press he reads to be freed from political beliefs, to be beyond them. Parisians like anything that is beyond.
Very few Parisians actually read Le Monde. Yet, all agree that “Le Monde, c’est un bon journal”. “Un journal sérieux” too. Yes, Parisians do have opinions about things they are not familiar with. Call that talent.
Parisians who actually read Le Monde are quickly put by other Parisians in the ‘intello’ category. This category in some Parisian circles comes with a high level of desirability. Which makes some Parisians buy Le Monde on a regular basis, and just carry it around. In that case, the Parisian will always say with a sad look “C’est chiant, j’ai jamais le temps de le lire”. Oui, c’est chiant. The people who read Le Monde the least are the people who have a subscription to it. In that case, the plan is never to read the newspaper but to actually drop neglectfully in every other conversation a “J’suis abonné au Monde”.
Pure superiority.
Useful tip : To be mistaken for a Parisian, buy Le Monde, fold it, and walk. Then sit at a café and make phone calls.
Sound like a Parisian: « Moi, de toute façon, je lis qu’Le Monde, les autres journaux, honnêtement, j’peux pas »
Tags: journalism, News, newspaper
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You mean, Parisians don’t trust Le Figaro? Why then so many people read it in the metro? (which is a big mystery to me: how can you take the metro when you read the Figaro? or why do you read the Figaro if you take the metro?)
And in case, you wonder, the only French daily paper I read is… Le Monde… (and I’m part of the ones that put it in their bags and actually read it at home)
Le parisien is carrying over “Le Monde”, but le parisien has one habit he would not tell about :
reading “Le Parisien” while having its “noisette” with his tartine / croissant at 730 before jumping in L1 to la Defense.
Olivier, I know this is what you are doing!
Hmmm…
Next time I’m in Paris I’ll definitely practice my french with this “Le Monde” you speak of… but I’ll probably use my phone to translate and pretend I’m texting…
By the way, how do Parisians feel about texting?
Oh thank god. I have bought Le Monde many times (although I cannot understand a word of it), but I also buy the French Vogue and Match, which I am sure just puts my gesture towards Parisian correctness in the mud.
So then I buy the International Herald and the New Yorker to remind myself who I really am.
Sometimes, REAL parisians indulge in buying the International Herald Tribune or Le canard enchainé too…
As like Le Monde, they carry it rather than reading it…
Parisians should read le monde more often… they would realize how overrated it is…
;p
Stéphan
David… Ah!! See, the difficulty of this exercize is that I try t pick stuff that all parisians like, beyond political or social belongings!! Ain’t easy!! So for shizzle, you’ll find Parisians who only read Le Fig, others than only read Libé. Le Fig actually sells much more than Le Monde I believe. I guess your interrogation is the ‘pendant’ of the “il a plein de fric et il vote à gauche”!! Question for you: do you let your paper stick out of your bag?!!
Marc… Ah!! It’s true… Most like Le Parisien better but won’t actually buy it. Buying Le Parisien is like buying porn for Parisians! And as far as i’mconcerned… i’m so still sleeping at 7.30 in the morning!!
Nenii… Good idea. Efficient strategy that is. As far as texting goes, Parisians do text. A lot. And a scary thing is happening now, even older parisians start texting!
Ruth… You’re my idol!
Stéphan… True. IHT you think people buy? I think that’s the type of papers people get on campus or in their office for free but very few actually buy. Le Canard is a must read that’s for sure. I for one also love Super Picsou Géant.
I have the same relationship with The Economist… and PS, the “useful tip” made me laugh out loud
Olivier once again you’ve stirred up some vivid memories of my third year of Uni. spent at Paris III. There was always this newspaper vendor at Chatelet with a very very nasally voice who would echo over and over…”Le Monde? Le Canard Enchaine?” I can still hear it now, over 10 years later!
Nancy… The Economist is seriously cool!! Many Americans have the same sort of thing with The New York Times I feel. But they occasionally read an article. Usually online, usually from the ‘most popular’ section. Can’t believe how many times, living in France, I heard ‘I read this article in the New York Times’ to introduce a topic… Glad the tip made you laugh – it’s true though!!
Sue… It’s funny how these little things in life we remember for ever! the human brain is a funny thing…
Best useful tip ever.
And the Glaswegian equivalent is…? Ah well, class wars rule here, ok.
Tabloids flashing bare-breasted ‘babes’ are rolled under-arm and worn with flourescent tabards and steel toe-capped boots…The Guardian is touted with tres liberal jeans and worthy beards, ear-studs glinting in masculine ears and feminine noses…The Times? It adorns the business suited arm, refusing to fit the black leather briefcase, bulging with self-importance.
Only the working-class ‘old’ read the ‘People’s Friend’ (think right-wing reactionary) – which defies charicature and carries pictures of the type of velcro-ed shoes which the old and infirm require.
I dream of a world of Le Monde!
But have a similar relationship with The Independant…
Liking the blog!
Yx
As usual, you’ve hit the nail on the head, Olivier.
The great thing about Le Monde is that, on the weekend, it allows The Parisian to combine 2 things from SPL: Le Monde and New York! I’ve had so many French people tell me “tu sais, en fait je suis tres new yorkais, je lis toujours le New York Times dans Le Monde le weekend, j’aime beaucoup ce journal…” What makes you more of a poser, oh Parisian: carrying around Le Monde, which you could easily read but don’t, or bragging that you read the NYT supplement in Le Monde, when you don’t really have the English to understand any of it?
“Le Monde” – je l’ai dans la liste des sites que je lis. Je le regarde parfois mais c’est plutot rarement.. Oui, pour plusieurs personnes Le Monde est le ‘journal des journaux’ dans la presse fr.
Mujer… Thx for all tehse insights. Also learnt a new word thanks to you: Glaswegian!!
Accidental Parisian… Merci, c’est gentil. True… see, I had even forgotten about this weekend delicacy!!
On peut aussi ajouter deux snobismes en un : l’application Le Monde sur l’iPhone.
c’est un peu moins chiant que le papier et ça tâche moins les doigts mais c’est à peu près aussi peu lu…
le monde a tjrs été une sorte d’accessoire de mode, que l’on portait sous le bras (comme un anti transpirant). Je regrette qu’il soit bcp moins intéressant à lire qu’il y a dix ou vingt ans quand c’était un des meilleurs journaux au monde.
Il est encore, mais jusqu’à quand, un peu indépendant. As is Le Canard Enchaîné.
I worked there for some 20 years and I’ve been very lucky. Not the same, now.
Le Monde was absolutely independent, didn’t belong to any industrial group like le Figaro or Libé (see wkipedia for more). Still is, in a way but it can’t last.
We journalists were the main shareholders but without money (or very little).
And we elected our directeur (CEO)…and coul fire him (it happened).
That’a all Folks, enjoy yr reading
“Je suis abonné au Monde”, yes I am! … and I buy the Le Canard every Wednesday! Do I read them, sitting at a café? Yes it happens. On the terrace, smoking a Gauloise. You are right, it may be a bit too much!
Martine… should I infer that Le Monde was good when you worked there but now that you’re gone it no longer is?
Peter… I think it’s time to return that Swedish passport of yours Peter!
why do you think I choosed to quit?
Nothing to do with my own contributions if that’s what you meant (ha ha ha)
May I add that I left (plan de départs volontaires) but we were over a hundred to make the same choice. Why? we had a blog in june presseencolere.com (angryjournalists gave us the idea) and explained why…
I love your blog and and find it useful in preparing myself for my upcoming (okay ten months or so from now) trip to Paris.
Yeah, Le Parisien when snatched from the bar in a cafe: fabulous. Such good local gossip.
But my question: what do Parisians think about le JDD? I loved it.
Martine… Given the overall quality and independence of the French press, I think a blog called lecteursencolere could be an idea…
Cheryl… Well thank you very much. Hope you include a Wine Tasting with O Chateau in your list of things to do!!
Polly… Well, I heard it’s gotten better. But overall, the opinion is pretty low. Pure snobism on Sunday is to say you have some of the past week’s press to catch up on. That’s real Parisian-style!
presse en colere: that is mean…..well, somepeople read it at first. But ….
Olivier-
Just discovered your blog– it’s hilarious!
Blythe… Well, welcome – and merci!!
It’s true about Le Monde’s reputation. But I think the Parisiens have a certain amount of respect for the BBC. NOBODY – not even the Americans (except the crazy right-wingers) respects Fox “faux” news.
Paris Parfait… True about the BBC. As per Fox News, it’s a very comforting and widely spread feeling for Parisians to consider Americans retarded.
Nice article, but I prefer to read Les Échos, or The Financial Times. How both of them rate in Paris?
Juan… Both are read by business people or people who are not but would like to be (silly geese). Doctor with a nice little portfolio typically (for Les Echos… doctors dont speak much English). WSJ is kind of a snob read in Paris.