Laura Carollo
Research expert covering cinema and film
Online press in France - statistics & facts
In the digital age, it has become more and more common to find information and entertainment online. While print newspapers and magazines have not yet had their last word, the popularity of their digital counterparts has continued to rise in recent years. Greater flexibility and mobility as well as partially free content - the advantages that tip the scales in favor of digital are numerous.
However, consumption of newspapers and magazines online is not without its pitfalls despite its convenience. The reliability of the information found online can be difficult to assess and can have dire consequences. As of 2024, about 40 percent of French people believed they had encountered false news often in traditional media, about 30 percent less than on social media.
Major players
Online press can be accessed both directly on websites and via applications dedicated to them. As of July 2024, the website Lemonde.fr took the top spot as the most popular news website among French readers. In 2023, more than 80 percent of the readership of the popular newspaper Le Monde was digital. The sports magazine L'Equipe tops the ranking for websites and applications dedicated to sports news in France, while Boursorama and Capital.fr share first place for economic and legal news for apps and websites respectively.Convenience of use
Almost all French people have a smartphone, and it is their preferred device for accessing news. This digital consumption has grown very strongly over the last decade, both in terms of income and consumption, so much so that according to a survey conducted in October 2023, 18 percent of French people reported consulting websites of regional daily newspapers every day, and nine percent several times a day. This phenomenon can undoubtedly be explained by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has had a profound impact on the consumption habits of the French, especially digital habits. As of 2023, regional and local news magazines were increasingly read via digital format.Quick access to news content
Access to news online is another important topic when it comes to digital newspapers. Indeed, one of the numerous advantages of digital technology is the constant access to a news flow that is updated in real time. Whether on mobile or tablet, consumers see this as a reliable source of information that is always available at their fingertips. In 2024, regional and local newspapers were considered the most trusted news media according to French consumers, especially public media such as France Info and France Télévisions News.However, consumption of newspapers and magazines online is not without its pitfalls despite its convenience. The reliability of the information found online can be difficult to assess and can have dire consequences. As of 2024, about 40 percent of French people believed they had encountered false news often in traditional media, about 30 percent less than on social media.
