“Pick up a newspapercalled with bold headlines Liberation on its front page, exactly 50 years ago. The philosopher acted as its manager Jean Paul Sartre and that in itself gave the project a special dimension.

Fifty years later, a printed child from his past french maythe intersection of the diverse manifestations of the left of the time, which found its ideal ideological melting pot in the French capital, glorifies such a path worth mentioning.

From the original first page to thousands of others (unforgettable with “Chaos” on a blue background and in Greek letters to describe the political situation in Athens, November 2011), Liebe wrote history in the field of the press, either through innovation (in content and aesthetics) or through front pages that in themselves can tell a whole story – haunting, unique, with the stamp of Liberation.

May baby

Many asked what was left of May 1968, and easily answered: Liberation. The newspaper founded by the Maoists and Sartre was no doubt a print gamble.

Aesthetics in the bud 1973was inspired Maybe and Italian Lotta Continua. The first edition of Liberation was the brainchild of a journalist Serge Gillis and philosopher Jean Paul Sartre.

The front page announced that the newspaper had cut “new journalismwith the advent of a free and independent press ruled by the people.

“Child of May” was written not only by journalists, but also by its armed fighters Maoist proletarian left. Image on the main page (04/18/73) was expressive, as it depicted many people of different ages

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The post was published by Liberation (@libérationfr)

The articles mentioned the aims and raison d’être of Liberation, which largely consisted of publishing a newspaper through which the working class could express itself.

Both Sartre and Gillis believed that the soul of the proletariat was corrupted by the bourgeois ideology of the press of the day.

In her first postcard, she stressed the need to collect 23 million francs so she can continue by inviting her readers to subscribe.

It was “a non-partisan newspaper in which ideas and facts can be opposed to each other,” he also noted on the front page.

Finally, Liberation found its way to the stands on May 22, 1973. The water went down the drain through endless hours of discussion, argument, and (inevitably) ideological conflict.

50 years later, course and evolution

Liebe celebrated the birthday of half a century of his existence with a round table, which was attended by four people who have been sitting in the director’s chair for these years: Serge Gillis, Laurent Geoffrin, Nicolas Demorad And Dov Alphonse. And a tribute”50 Crazy Newspaper Story Stories“as they say.

🎂 Special 5️⃣0️⃣ answer: here is one of my birthday numbers @Libe

En kiosque mardi et disponible Pendant 3 jours: https://t.co/nj2k4mQp7h #libe50ans pic.twitter.com/9wr5mxzdCZ

— Liberation (@libe) April 17, 2023

Ideological DNA

The original place on the ideological spectrum of the extreme left has evolved, and since the late 1970s, Liebe has gained more centre-left perception of things.

As they say, her DNA “free/libertarianand has always sought to act as a common platform for various trends on the French Left, with “the defense of freedoms and minorities as a compass”.

His acquisition 37% from family Rothschild – in 2005 – and campaign for “Yesin a referendum on a European constitution alienated her from many on the left.

At first 1980s started taking advertising and allowed outsiders to participate in its management, which he had previously refused. However, he continued to maintain a leftist editorial stance.

According to its co-founder Serge Gillis, Liebe has always been activisthowever, he did not support any party—he had poor relations with both left and right governments.

On the pages of her articles, she published opinions from alien political and ideological starting points, while always striving to be a bearer of alternative opinions on cultural and social events.

As Zillie put it, “The liberation equation was a combination of counterculture and political radicalism.”

IN December 11, 2010Liberation started posting information from Wikileaksin solidarity to prevent it from being “strangled” by “governments and companies that tried to interfere with the operation [του WikiLeaks] even without a court order.

To him June 2015in cooperation with WikiLeaks, reported that the US National Security Agency was listening to the telephone conversations of the presidents. Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy And Francois Hollande from 2006 to 2012.

Une Libé tomorrow pic.twitter.com/fNilHRQh

— Nicolas Demoran (@ndemoran) November 1, 2011

The Rothschild years

In 2005, Liberation was in need of capital and Gillis tried to persuade the board to allow Edward de Rothschild buy a share. The council agreed, but conflicts soon arose.

IN November 25, 2005the newspaper went on strike to protest the dismissal of 52 workers.

Rothschild, who had promised not to interfere with editorial decisions, felt he was not playing an active enough role in running the paper.

IN June 13, 2006Zilli informed the staff that Rothschild was refusing to invest more money other than the general manager. Louis Dreyfus and leaves the newspaper.

He agreed, believing that the newspaper’s existence would depend on his decision. This shocked journalists, who issued a public statement the next day praising the newspaper’s founder and expressing concern about its journalistic independence.

IN July 6, Rothschild said: “Liberation needs help – moral, spiritual and financial support. Liberation doesn’t need a requiem,” but that didn’t seem to defuse the tension. More than 60 employees (35 journalists) resigned at the end of January 2007.

Liberation has never lost its original DNA (the defense of freedom at its deepest core), although the ideological orientation was centered.

Its first pages are still becoming landmarks even now – in the digital age, when speed often does not allow you to digest what you see.

🎂 Liberation Day for 50 years! Discover our special anniversary issue

En kiosk dès aujourd’hui and an affordable pendant for 3 days 🎉#Libe50ans pic.twitter.com/tMlDbBs6Rt

— Liberation (@libe) April 18, 2023