France Soir
Encyclopedia
France Soir is a French
daily newspaper that prospered during the 1950s and 1960s, but it has declined since then under various owners. It was re-launched as a populist tabloid in 2006.
. The paper grew to be ranked among the country's (and the European continent's) most circulated
, reaching 1.5 million in 1955. Early in the 21st century circulation dropped below 90,000.
for re-printing the cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad that were the subject of the "Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
". The 12 cartoons were printed with the addition of another depicting other religious figures sitting on a cloud with the caption reading, "Don't worry Muhammad, we've all been caricatured here.".
announced that the paper would become the property of Jean-Pierre Brunois, a real-estate developer, and Olivier Rey, a former journalist for the paper. The tribunal had been overseeing the bankruptcy and bids for take over since October 2005, at which point the circulation had dropped to around 50,000. The decision lead to strike by the staff who were displeased with Brunois plan to cut costs by firing many, and increase circulation by turning the paper into a tabloid. The opposing bid, favored by the staff, was from Arkadi Gaydamak, the owner of The Moscow News, who had promised not to fire the staff. Due to the turbulence, France Soir was not published for a month and a half.
Brunois brought in British photographer Jason Fraser to help with the tabloid remodeling of the paper.
. The paper was relaunched in 2010.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
daily newspaper that prospered during the 1950s and 1960s, but it has declined since then under various owners. It was re-launched as a populist tabloid in 2006.
History
France Soir was originally founded as the underground paper Défense de la France ("Defense of France") in November 1944 by Pierre Lazareff, but it was renamed France Soir after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The paper grew to be ranked among the country's (and the European continent's) most circulated
Newspaper circulation
A newspaper's circulation is the number of copies it distributes on an average day. Circulation is one of the principal factors used to set advertising rates. Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often called paid circulation, since some newspapers are distributed without cost to the...
, reaching 1.5 million in 1955. Early in the 21st century circulation dropped below 90,000.
Cartoon controversy
In February 2006, Jacques Lefranc, managing director of the news, was dismissed by then owner Raymond LakahRaymond Lakah
Raymond Lakah, born Rami Lakah , is a French-Egyptian, Roman Catholic Christian magnate, and former owner of the French newspaper France Soir....
for re-printing the cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad that were the subject of the "Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
". The 12 cartoons were printed with the addition of another depicting other religious figures sitting on a cloud with the caption reading, "Don't worry Muhammad, we've all been caricatured here.".
Acquisition by Jean-Pierre Brunois and Olivier Rey
In April 2006, the Tribunal of Commerce in LilleLille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
announced that the paper would become the property of Jean-Pierre Brunois, a real-estate developer, and Olivier Rey, a former journalist for the paper. The tribunal had been overseeing the bankruptcy and bids for take over since October 2005, at which point the circulation had dropped to around 50,000. The decision lead to strike by the staff who were displeased with Brunois plan to cut costs by firing many, and increase circulation by turning the paper into a tabloid. The opposing bid, favored by the staff, was from Arkadi Gaydamak, the owner of The Moscow News, who had promised not to fire the staff. Due to the turbulence, France Soir was not published for a month and a half.
Brunois brought in British photographer Jason Fraser to help with the tabloid remodeling of the paper.
Pugachyov ownership
In 2009 France Soir was acquired by Alexander Pugachyov, son of Russian ex-billionaire Sergey PugachyovSergey Pugachyov
Sergey Viktorovich Pugachyov is a Russian "oligarch", formerly also a politician.-Early life:The son of an army officer, Pugachyov was brought up in Saint Petersburg, where he studied art. As a young man, he became a friend of Vladimir Putin....
. The paper was relaunched in 2010.