LEFT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate Le Monde Left-Center biased based on story selection and editorial positions that moderately favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: France
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Newspaper
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Launched in 1944, at the order of Charles de Gaulle, Le Monde is a daily newspaper based in Paris, France. The paper covers French current events, world news, economy, sports politics, and lifestyle. Le Monde’s editorial stance is considered Centre-Left.
Up until 2010, Le Monde was owned by journalists and employees who work there; however, in 2010, they ran into financial troubles, and it was acquired by Mathieu Pigasse (a Lazard partner), Xavier Niel (a telecom entrepreneur), and Pierre Bergé (former owner of Saint Laurent). In October 2018, Pigasse sold 49% of his stake in the company to Czech businessman Daniel Křetínský who made his fortune from fossil fuels. Le Monde’s Independency Group, a minority shareholder, made up of journalists and (own 25 percent of its parent company) was not informed of this sale. In 2019 the journalists at Le Monde pressured Pigasse and Niel, which resulted in the signing of the veto agreement called “pole d’independance: which gives a veto right to the minority shareholders over any change of shareholder control.
Read our profile on France’s Media and Government.
Funded by / Ownership
The Le Monde Group (La Vie-Le Monde group ) owns Le Monde, and the group is controlled by Le Monde Libre, which owns 75% of the capital. It is owned by Xavier Niel, Madison Cox (widower of Pierre Bergé ), Le Nouveau Monde ( Matthieu Pigasse and Daniel Kretinsky and Spanish press group Prisa. The history of ownership is detailed above if you are interested; here is more on Le Monde’s complicated ownership structure. Le Monde generates revenue from group subscriptions and advertising.
Analysis / Bias
Le Monde editorially holds left-centrists views. For example, they publish articles from a liberal perspective, such as “George Clooney’s lesson in inclusiveness in Los Angeles” and “Women in struggle, a world struggle” (in partnership with The French Development Agency – Agence Française de Développement, AFD).
They also report on the seriousness of climate change, supporting the widely-shared scientific consensus of global warming. Here is an editorial published by Le Monde upon the withdrawal of the Paris Accord by former president Donald Trump “On climate change, an abdicationist America,” and another article regarding climate activist “Greta Thunberg: “People don’t want to hear bad news about the climate crisis anymore.”
In general, Le Monde publishes blog posts authored by Thomas Pickety regarding topics such as the rise in inequality “After the climate denial, the inequality denial” and “The G7 legalizes the right to defraud.” These articles are properly sourced through hyperlinking to credible outlets such as Propublica, BBC, PBS, and taxjusticenow.org. They also republish articles from the newswire service AFP.
In general, they report factually and use a wide variety of credible sources, however editorially, they promote liberal positions on most issues and lean left.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Le Monde Left-Center biased based on story selection and editorial positions that moderately favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. (M. Huitsing 7/4/2021) Updated (03/31/2024)
Source: https://www.lemonde.fr/
Last Updated on March 31, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check
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