Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 4044 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone
Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF ASEC AR AORC AJ AM AMGT AU AE AGMT AG AS AFIN APER ABUD ATRN AEMR ACOA AEC AO AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC AL ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP AROC ATFN AVERY
BM BR BL BA BILAT BTIO BEXP BH BE BK BRUSSELS BX BU BO BIDEN BY BG BF BB BC BBSR
CU CO CH CDG CIA CACM CDB CI CS CVIS CA CBW CASC CD CV CMGT CLINTON CE CJAN CG CF CN CAN COUNTER CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CY CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS COM CJUS CARSON COUNTERTERRORISM
DJ DEAX DR DA DHS DOE DEA DK DISENGAGEMENT DS DOD
EG ECON ETTC EFIN EZ ETRD EUN ELAB EU EINV EAID EMIN ENRG ECPS EN ER ET ES EPET EUC EI EAIR EAGR EIND EWWT ELTN EREL ECIN EFIS EINT EC ENVR ECA ELN EXTERNAL EINVETC ENIV EINN ENGR EUR ESA ENERG EK ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD
FR FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FARC FBI FJ FMLN
GM GG GV GH GA GE GT GR GTIP GOI GCC GAZA GZ GTMO
HU HR HA HILLARY HUMAN HO HYMPSK HURI HK
IV IR IS IZ IAEA IN IT ICTY IQ ICAO INTERPOL IPR INRB IRAJ INRA INRO IO IC ID IIP ITPHUM IWC ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC IMO IF ILC IEFIN INTELSAT IL IA IBRD IMF ITALY ITALIAN
JAMES JO JA JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JUS
KGIC KDEM KTIP KOMC KNNP KWBG KU KPAL KGHG KAWK KISL KPAO KHLS KSUM KSPR KJUS KCRM KGCC KPIN KDRG KTFN KG KBIO KHIV KSCA KN KS KCOR KZ KE KFRD KIPR KPKO KNUC KMDR KPLS KOLY KUNR KIRF KIRC KACT KRAD KCOM KMCA KV KHDP KVPR KDEV KWMN KTIA KPRP KAWC KCIP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KBCT KICC KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KO KTER KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KMPI KNPP KNAR KWMM KERG KFIN KTBT KCRS KRVC KR KPWR KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF
LE LG LH LY LU LI LO LOG LT
MOPS MARR MNUC MX MASS MCAP MO MIL MTCRE ML MR MZ MPOS MOPPS MTCR MAPP MU MY MA MG MASC MCC MEPP MK MTRE MP MDC MAR MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI MD MAPS MUCN MASSMNUC
NATO NL NU NIPP NI NPT NG NO NE NS NAR NZ NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NGO NP NSF NATIONAL
OVIP OPDC OPRC OIIP OFFICIALS OSAC OAS OEXC ODIP OREP OFDP OTRA OSCE OPIC OECD OPCW OSCI OIE OTR OVP
PARM PREL PTER PHUM PGOV PINR PINS PREF PK PE PBTS POGOV PROP PINL PL POL PBIO PSOE PHSA PKFK PO PGOF PARMS PA PM PMIL PTERE PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAK PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PNAT PROV PEL PGOVE POLINT PRAM POLITICS PEPR PSI PINT PU POLITICAL PARTIES PECON
QA
RS RO REGION RU RW RP RIGHTS RICE ROBERT RF RFE
SOCI SY SENV SA SP SNAR SG SCUL SR STEINBERG SF SW SU SL SMIG SO SN SHUM SZ SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SH SI
TS TU TX TBIO TW TSPA TH TIP TI TRGY TC TR TT TERRORISM TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TPHY TK TNGD
UK UN US UNGA UNSC UNO UNMIK UV UY UP UG USEU USUN UZ UE UNESCO UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS UNAUS
VE VZ VN VT VM VTPREL
WTO WTRO WA WI WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD WB WBG
XG XT XM XF XR XS XL XK XH XA XY XC XZ XW XD
YE YM YI
ZB ZI ZF ZP ZK ZANU ZOELLICK ZR ZU ZA

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06PARIS7251, DAILY NEWSPAPERS: FIRST IN A SERIES ON THE FRENCH MEDIA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06PARIS7251.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06PARIS7251 | 2006-11-06 16:04 | 2010-12-15 12:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Paris

`

    VZCZCXRO0970
    RR RUEHIK RUEHYG
    DE RUEHFR #7251/01 3101640
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 061640Z NOV 06
    FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2900
    INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
    RUEHMRE/AMCONSUL MARSEILLE 1425
    RUEHSR/AMCONSUL STRASBOURG 0239

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PARIS 007251

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR EUR/PPD, EUR/WE, INR, R

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREL KPAO OPRC FR
    SUBJECT: DAILY NEWSPAPERS: FIRST IN A SERIES ON THE FRENCH MEDIA

    PARIS 00007251 001.2 OF 004

    Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.

    -------
    SUMMARY
    -------

    ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Paris has been reviewing and recalibrating its
    media strategy for the 2006-2007 to determine the appropriate
    attention to keep on traditional print media while pivoting to
    expand our efforts with radio and TV media, as well as with the new
    Internet media. This analysis of French daily print press is the
    first in a series of cables analyzing the particularities of the
    French media environment. Future cables will examine France's
    influential news weeklies, its broadcast media, and the dynamic
    French blogo-sphere.

    ¶2. (U) Today's French daily print press scene is characterized by
    illustrious national mastheads (Le Monde, Le Figaro, Liberation)
    losing money and readership as they are challenged by increasingly
    credible upstarts. There also remains a powerful regional print
    press network, mostly controlled by old newspaper families. Embassy
    Paris maintains its own contacts with the regional press -- whose
    leadership gathers in Paris at least quarterly -- but we coordinate
    most of our regional outreach efforts through the two Consulates and
    five American Presence Posts.

    ¶3. (U) Lively and competitive print media still exercise significant
    influence on French public opinion, despite a lasting and serious
    crisis affecting the traditional daily newspapers. Twenty-seven
    national dailies of general interest were available in France before
    World War II; only six are still available today. Some still exist
    thanks only to financial help from the French state, others because
    of private investment. Since 2004 there has been growing French
    interest in free daily publications such as "20 Minutes" and "Metro"
    (in the morning) and, more recently, "Direct Soir" (in the evening).
    Seventy-five percent of the French people reading one of these free
    newspapers do not and would not buy and read any other daily
    publication.

    ¶4. (U) In terms of reach, radio and television are the main French
    sources of news. The French spend an average of 3 hours 40 minutes
    per day watching television (versus only 35 minutes spent reading
    the press). Nevertheless, there are 75 daily titles across France
    (national and regional), served by 5,000 journalists, and read by
    more than 18 million readers. End Summary.

    -----------------------------
    LE MONDE, CIRCULATION 372,310
    -----------------------------

    ¶5. (U) France's newspaper of record, Le Monde is considered one of
    the great papers in Europe. Influential in government, business and
    intellectual circles, the editorial line is left-of-center.
    Although Le Monde has traditionally been critical of the United
    States, the paper adopted a more balanced approach on 9/11 when
    director Jean-Marie Colombani wrote the famous front-page headline
    "We Are All Americans." Despite Le Monde's critical assessment of
    American foreign policy since the beginning of the war in Iraq, it
    has been more moderate since the departure of controversial deputy
    director Edwy Plenel in December 2004.

    ¶6. (U) The brainchild of General Charles de Gaulle, who wanted to
    give France a daily newspaper during the war, Le Monde was founded
    in December 1944 by Hubert Beuve-Mery. The paper's current CEO is
    Jean-Marie Colombani, with the paper owned by the joint-stock
    company La Vie-Le Monde. La Vie-Le Monde publishes 43 press titles,
    including magazines such as: Courrier International, Telerama,
    Notre Histoire, Top Famille Magazine, and La Vie.

    ¶7. (U) As most French dailies, Le Monde suffers from a decline in
    readership and advertising revenue. The paper launched a new
    formula on November 7, 2005, which divided it into three sections,
    gave images more importance, and attempted to develop a certain
    intimacy with the reader.

    ¶8. (SBU) In addition to Colombani's occasional in-depth political
    analysis, the most influential editorialists and journalists are
    News Director Gerard Courtois, co-deputy news directors Patrick
    Jarreau, Franck Nouchi and Alain Frachon(also in charge of Le Monde
    2), international relations director Daniel Vernet, Sylvain Cypel
    (in charge of Focus), and Nathalie Nougayrede (foreign
    correspondent). U.S.-based correspondents are Corine Lesnes
    (Washington), and Eric Leser (New York).

    ¶9. (U) Le Monde group's other holdings include Le Monde de
    l'education, Le Monde des religions, Le Monde diplomatique and Le
    Monde 2. Le Monde 2, Le Monde's weekly supplement launched in 2002
    and published every Saturday, continues to have difficulties making

    PARIS 00007251 002.2 OF 004

    a name for itself among the other weekly publications.

    ------------------------------
    LE FIGARO, CIRCULATION 343,594
    ------------------------------

    ¶10. (U) Le Figaro is France's oldest national daily. Founded in
    1826, Le Figaro has counted among its contributors writers such as
    Alexandre Dumas, Edmond and Jules Goncourt, Emile Zola (during the
    Dreyfus Affair), Tristan Bernard, Andre Maurois, Paul Claudel and
    Colette. Socpresse S.A. currently owns Le Figaro. The paper's
    editorial line is right-of-center and usually supportive of
    President Chirac's administration.

    ¶11. (SBU) In addition to Le Figaro, Socpresse S.A. also owns 65
    percent of the news weekly publications Figaro Magazine, Madame
    Figaro, TV Magazine, Version Femina. The most influential
    editorialists and journalists are news director Nicolas Beytout,
    Alexandre Adler, Michel Schiffres, Alain-Gerard Slama, Pierre
    Rousselin, Luc de Barochez and international affairs correspondent
    Renaud Girard. The Washington correspondent is Philippe Gelie, and
    Guillaume Faure also frequently writes from DC or New York.

    -------------------------------
    LIBERATION, CIRCULATION 142,198
    -------------------------------

    ¶12. (U) Liberation is moderately left-wing and pro-socialist.
    Jean-Paul Sartre founded Liberation in 1973. Despite having lower
    circulation than either Le Monde or Le Figaro, Liberation is the
    paper of reference in leftist intellectual circles. "Libe," as it
    is affectionately called, is facing a serious financial crisis due
    to a decline in readership.

    ¶13. (U) Since 2004, the newspaper has been run by a joint stock
    company headed by Edouard de Rothschild, Liberation employees, the
    movie company Pathe, the British risk capital company 3i, and a
    number of additional long-term shareholders. Vittorio de Filippis
    is currently the acting publication director.

    ¶14. (SBU) Liberation's most influential editorialists and
    journalists include Gerard Dupuy, Jean-Michel Thenard, and
    recently-arrived deputy news director and editorialist Pierre Haski.
    U.S.-based correspondents are Philippe Grangereau in Washington and
    Laurent Mauriac in New York.

    ------------------------------
    LES ECHOS, CIRCULATION 142,966
    ------------------------------

    ¶15. (U) Focusing on economic and financial news, Les Echos has been
    in the Pearson Group's portfolio of international newspapers since
    ¶1988. (Note: The Pearson Group also prints the Financial Times.
    End Note.) In addition to the daily, the Les Echos Groupe (Pearson
    Group's French subsidiary company) also publishes the monthly
    economic magazine Enjeux-Les Echos (circulation 142,487). In 1996,
    Les Echos was the first national daily to launch a Web site.

    ------------------------------
    LA TRIBUNE, CIRCULATION 92,535
    ------------------------------

    ¶16. (U) La Tribune is owned by the Desfosse International group
    (D.I.), the media subsidiary of world leader of luxury products
    L.V.M.H. (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton). D.I. also owns Investir, Le
    Monde de la Musique, and Radio Classique.

    --------------------------------
    LE PARISIEN, CIRCULATION 345,082
    --------------------------------

    ¶17. (U) Le Parisien/Aujourd'hui en France, a regional daily paper,
    was founded in 1944 by Emilien Amaury under the title Le Parisien
    Libere. His son changed the name in 1985 upon becoming the paper's
    director. He created the national Aujourd'hui en France
    (circulation 161,408). In addition to Le Parisien and Aujourd'hui
    en France, the Amaury family and the Hachette group also owns three
    popular sports publications: L'Equipe (circulation 357,731), France
    Football, and Velo magazine.

    ¶18. (SBU) Under Editorial Director Christian Villaneuve, Le Parisien
    has self-consciously positioned itself as the "USA Today" of France.
    It publishes no editorials per se, nor does it normally accept
    op-ed contributions. The notable exception was Le Parisien's
    decision to publish President George Bush's January 2005 op-ed about
    U.S. tsunami assistance efforts.

    -----------------------------

    PARIS 00007251 003.2 OF 004

    LA CROIX, CIRCULATION 102,022
    -----------------------------

    ¶19. (U) Catholic La Croix is part of the Bayard Press group that
    includes newspapers, magazines and books directed to an audience
    ranging from children to seniors. Bayard Press group claims 27
    percent of the children's press market share (the most popular
    titles include Popi, Pomme d'Api, as well as Les Belles Histoires de
    Pomme d'Api). They also have a wide range of teen press, including
    Okapi, Je Bouquine, Phosphore.

    ¶20. (SBU) La Croix was founded in 1883 by the Augustines of the
    Assumption who still own the paper within the Bayard Press group.
    The most influential editorialists and journalists there are
    director and political analyst Dominique Quinio, political analyst
    Francois Ernenwein, foreign editor Jean-Christophe Ploquin, and
    international reporters Francois d'Alancon and Gilles Biassette.

    ------------------------------
    L'HUMANITE, CIRCULATION 54,083
    ------------------------------

    ¶21. (SBU) The French communist party's national daily continues to
    command a loyal readership among its members, but with little
    influence beyond the party faithful.

    ----------------------------
    FREE PAPERS SNAGGING READERS
    ----------------------------

    ¶22. (SBU) In recent years, two free daily newspapers, 20 Minutes
    (circulation 695,998) and Metro (circulation 519,028), have become
    serious challengers to the traditional press. 20 Minutes' news
    director is former U.S.-based Liberation correspondent Frederic
    Filloux. Metro's news director is Jennifer Galle. The papers
    publish little in the way of original reporting, deferring to the
    wire services for much of the substantive reportage.

    ¶23. (U) In France, the free daily press represents a significant 36
    percent of the daily national newspaper market. Both 20 Minutes and
    Metro have editions in the regional capital cities Bordeaux, Lille,
    Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Strasbourg, as well as Toulouse.

    ¶24. (U) Direct Soir is a third free publication, published in the
    evening in 15 French cities (circulation 500,000). Launched on June
    6, 2005, Direct Soir is owned by Vincent Bollore.

    -------------------------------------------
    REGIONAL DAILY PRESS -- WHERE THE ACTION IS
    -------------------------------------------

    ¶25. (U) With more than 400 titles and a total circulation exceeding
    2.5 billion copies per year, the regional daily press includes some
    of the most-widely circulated dailies in France. Readership is
    slowly declining, however, as the traditional readership base ages.

    ¶26. (U) Ouest-France, which covers most of western France, tops all
    French newspapers with a circulation of 781,803. Other influential
    regional titles include Le Progres (circulation 241,754) in the Lyon
    area, Sud-Ouest (circulation 323,542) in the Bordeaux area, La Voix
    du Nord (circulation 303,621) in the Lille area, La Nouvelle
    Republique du Centre-Ouest (circulation 232,709) in the Tours area,
    La Depeche du Midi (circulation 201,805) in the Toulouse area, La
    Montagne (circulation 207,202) in the Clermont-Ferrand area, Les
    Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace (circulation 193,994) in the Strasbourg
    area, La Provence (circulation 163,112) in the Marseille area, and
    Nice-Matin (circulation 125,182) in the Nice area.

    ---------------------------------
    OUEST-FRANCE, CIRCULATION 781,803
    ---------------------------------

    ¶27. (U) Paul Hutin-Degrees launched Ouest-France on August 7, 1944,
    following Charles de Gaulle's call to revive the French free press.
    The paper has developed into the number one daily in France in terms
    of circulation and enjoys a solid reputation. Francois-Regis Hutin
    (son of the late founder) has managed the paper since 1965.

    ¶28. (U) Headquartered in Rennes, Ouest-France has offices in several
    French departments reporting local news. The paper maintains 63
    local offices, 545 journalists, 2635 correspondents, and 42
    different daily editions in Bretagne, Pays-de-la-Loire and
    Basse-Normandie, as well as a significant presence in Paris, where
    ten journalists cover national and international events. The
    paper's foreign editor, Joseph Limagne, is based in Paris.
    Additionaly, Ouest-France holds 25 percent of the shares of the free
    daily newspaper 20 Minutes.

    PARIS 00007251 004.2 OF 004

    --------------------
    AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
    --------------------

    ¶29. (U) Agence France-Presse (AFP) is the oldest of the world's
    three major wire services, founded in 1835 by banker Charles-Louis
    Havas. With more than 2,000 employees worldwide, including 1,100
    journalists and 150 photographers in 165 countries, AFP produces
    400,000 to 600,000 words, 1,000 photos and 50 news graphics per day.
    Its reporters work in French, English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese
    and German. Within France, AFP has bureaus in seven regional
    capital cities, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes,
    Strasbourg, and Toulouse. In the U.S., AFP has bureaus in
    Washington DC, Los Angeles, New York, The United Nations (NY),
    Chicago, Miami, and San Francisco.

    ---
    IHT
    ---

    ¶30. (U) Paris is home to a wide variety of international media as
    well, the best-known being The International Herald Tribune, which
    has a circulation of 24,858 in France.
    STAPLETON

`