Editing L'Express

{{Short description|French weekly news magazine}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Expand French|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = {{Lang|fr|L'Express}}
| logo = L'Express_Logo.svg
| image_file = Lexpress-France-cover-8to15January2020.jpg
| image_caption = {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} magazine cover, 8–15 January 2020
| editor = Arnaud Bouillin
| editor_title = Editor-in-Chief
| category = [[News magazine]]
| frequency = Weekly
| circulation = 215,093 (total, 2022)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acpm.fr/Support/l-express |title=History |date=n.d. |website=[[Alliance pour les chiffres de la presse et des médias]] |language=fr |access-date=21 June 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230621160749/https://www.acpm.fr/Support/l-express |archive-date=21 June 2023}}</ref>
| political = <!-- LEFT -->
| founder = [[Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber]] and [[Françoise Giroud]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1953}}
| company = Groupe L'Express ([[Alain Weill]])
| country = France
| based = Paris
| language = [[French language|French]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.lexpress.fr/|lexpress.fr}}
| issn = 0014-5270
| eissn = 2491-4282
}}

'''{{Lang|fr|L'Express}}''' ({{IPA|fr|lɛkspʁɛs|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Mathieu Kappler-L'Express.wav}}, stylized in [[all caps]]) is a French weekly [[news magazine]] headquartered in Paris.<ref>[http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/medienindex/media_articles/?frommedia=507 L'Express] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025210740/http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/medienindex/media_articles/?frommedia=507 |date=25 October 2014 }} Eurotopics.</ref> The weekly stands at the political [[centre-right]] in the French media landscape,<ref name="LeMonde2021">{{cite news |last1=Dassonville |first1=Aude |last2=Cassini |first2=Sandrine |date=23 September 2021 |title=L'Express réaffirme son ancrage libéral |trans-title=L'Express reaffirms its liberal roots |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2021/09/23/l-express-reaffirme-son-ancrage-liberal_6095783_3234.html |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230621174837/https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2021/09/23/l-express-reaffirme-son-ancrage-liberal_6095783_3234.html |archive-date=21 June 2023 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and has a lifestyle supplement, ''L'Express Styles'', and a job supplement, ''Réussir''.<ref name=rou/> Founded in 1953 by [[Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber]] and [[Françoise Giroud]], ''L'Express'' would be considered France's first American-style news weekly.<ref>{{cite news |last=Riding |first=Alan |author-link=Alan Riding |date=19 January 2003 |title=Françoise Giroud, Co-Founder of L'Express, Is Dead at 86 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/19/obituaries/franoise-giroud-cofounder-of-lexpress-is-dead-at-86.html |url-status=live |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230620200029/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/19/obituaries/franoise-giroud-cofounder-of-lexpress-is-dead-at-86.html |archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url-access=limited}}</ref> ''L'Express'' is one of the three major French news weeklies alongside ''[[Le Nouvel Obs]]'' and ''[[Le Point]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Benedetti Valentini |first1=Fabio |last2=Alcaraz |first2=Marina |date=25 September 2021 |title=Les newsmagazines français en quête d'équilibre financier |trans-title=French newsmagazines in search of financial balance |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/medias/les-newsmagazines-francais-en-quete-dequilibre-financier-1349389 |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=[[Les Echos (France)|Les Echos]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230623131814/https://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/medias/les-newsmagazines-francais-en-quete-dequilibre-financier-1349389 |archive-date=23 June 2023 |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hanne |first= Isabelle |date=1 March 2012 |title=Dans le secret de la face cachée des magazines |trans-title=In the secret of the hidden face of magazines |url=https://www.liberation.fr/ecrans/2012/03/01/dans-le-secret-de-la-face-cachee-des-magazines_951541/ |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=[[Libération]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230623133646/https://www.liberation.fr/ecrans/2012/03/01/dans-le-secret-de-la-face-cachee-des-magazines_951541/ |archive-date=23 June 2023 |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>

==History and profile==
{{Lang|fr|L'Express}} was co-founded in 1953<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical development of the media in France|url=http://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335236220.pdf|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225005455/http://www.mheducation.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335236220.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> by [[Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber]],<ref>{{cite book|author1=Richard Aplin|author2=Joseph Montchamp|title=Dictionary of Contemporary France|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DGS2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT454|access-date=22 November 2014|date=27 January 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-93646-4|page=202}}</ref><ref name=chs>{{cite book|author=Christopher H. Sterling|title=Encyclopedia of Journalism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLV1AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1007|access-date=4 March 2015|date=25 September 2009|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-6152-2|page=1009}}</ref> future president of the [[Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Party|Radical Party]], and [[Françoise Giroud]],<ref name=mmo>{{cite book|author=Michael Mould|title=The Routledge Dictionary of Cultural References in Modern French|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x-FNTmUwfpEC&pg=PA515|access-date=31 December 2014|date=27 April 2011|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-136-82573-6|page=513}}</ref> who had earlier edited ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'' and went on to become France's first [[Ministry of Women's Affairs (France)|minister of women's affairs]] in 1974 and minister of culture in 1976. ''L'Express''{{'}} first issue was released on Saturday 16 May 1953, at the corner of the end of the [[First Indochina War|Indochina War]] and the [[Algerian War]] which was about to break out.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=10 November 1989 |title=L'Express passe le cap des 2 000 numéros. Une histoire mouvementée |trans-title=L'Express passes the milestone of 2,000 numbers. A turbulent history |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1989/11/10/l-express-passe-le-cap-des-2-000-numeros-une-histoire-mouvementee_4134962_1819218.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=[[Le Monde]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230708204620/https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1989/11/10/l-express-passe-le-cap-des-2-000-numeros-une-histoire-mouvementee_4134962_1819218.html |archive-date=8 July 2023 |access-date=8 July 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> It was founded as a weekly supplement to the newspaper ''[[Les Echos (France)|Les Échos]]''.<ref name="Cressard2003">{{cite news |last=Cressard |first=Armelle |date=16 May 2003 |title=L'Express a 50 ans |trans-title=L'Express is 50 years old |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2003/05/16/l-express-a-50-ans_4264863_1819218.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Le Monde |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230708202959/https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2003/05/16/l-express-a-50-ans_4264863_1819218.html |archive-date=8 July 2023 |access-date=8 July 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>  

The magazine was supportive of the policies of [[Pierre Mendès-France]] in Indochina and, in general, had a [[left-wing politics|left-of-centre]] orientation. The magazine opposed the Algerian War, and especially the use of [[Torture during the Algerian War|torture]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/nov/09/pressandpublishing.guardianobituaries Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber] The Guardian, 9 November 2006</ref> In March 1958, as a result of an article of [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] reviewing the book ''[[La Question]]'' by [[Henri Alleg]], the magazine was prevented from being published by the French Government. In order to resume publication, {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} had to print a new issue without the incriminated article. [[François Mauriac]] was a regular contributor with his ''Bloc-Notes'' column but left {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} when [[Charles de Gaulle]] returned to power.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

In 1964, ''L'Express'' was modelled on the US magazine ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' and the German magazine ''[[Der Spiegel]]''.<ref name="Cressard2003"/> That same year, a number of journalists, including [[Jean Daniel]] and [[André Gorz]], quit {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} to found ''[[Le Nouvel Observateur]]''. Servan-Schreiber turned {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} into a less politically engaged publication, and the circulation rose from 150,000 to 500,000 copies in three years.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} The magazine's sales surged in 1965 with its investigation into the [[Mehdi Ben Barka|Ben Barka]] case, which had shaken the [[Gaullism|Gaullist]] government.<ref name="Cressard2003" />

In 1971, as a result of Servan-Schreiber's political activities as a deputy of the Radical Party, nine journalists of {{Lang|fr|L'Express}}, including [[Claude Imbert (journalist)|Claude Imbert]], left the magazine and created ''[[Le Point]]'' to counter what they perceived as the "current breed of French intellectuals in the press and elsewhere, with their leftist dogmas and complacent nihilism".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100713093107/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,944545-1,00.html "Making Le Point"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 27 November 1972.</ref> Journalist [[Philippe Grumbach]], who, after joining the magazine in 1954, had left in 1963 to pursue independent work, was appointed political editor.<ref name="monde">{{cite news |date=1 October 1971|title=Philippe Grumbach devient directeur politique de 'L'Express'|language=French|trans-title=Philippe Grumbach becomes political director of 'L'Express'|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1971/09/01/m-philippe-grumbach-devient-directeur-politique-de-l-express_2447701_1819218.html|work=[[Le Monde]]|access-date=16 February 2024}}</ref> He left in 1978. Earlier in 1977, Servan-Schreiber sold his magazine to [[Jimmy Goldsmith]].<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article628663.ece Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''The Times'', 8 November 2006</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061125035538/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914906,00.html Sir Jimmy's Cross-Channel Fiefdom] ''TIME Magazine'', 18 April 1977</ref>

[[Jean-François Revel]] became director in October 1978. He was replaced by [[Yves Cuau]] in May 1981. The same year the magazine had a circulation of 507,000 copies.<ref name="kuhn">{{cite book|author=Raymond Kuhn|title=The Media in France|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3t-KAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA68|access-date=15 November 2014|date=7 April 2006|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-98053-6|page=68}}</ref> In 1986, {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} started a news exchange cooperation with the [[Belgium]]-based French language news magazine ''[[Le Vif/L’Express]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Le Vif/L'Express|url=http://www.voxeurop.eu/en/content/source-information/564521-le-vifl-express|work=VoxEurop|access-date=7 December 2014}}</ref> In 1987, {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} had a circulation of 555,000 copies and 554,000 copies in 1988.<ref name="Humphreys1996">{{cite book|author=Peter Humphreys|title=Mass Media and Media Policy in Western Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2vlTzbOGhdIC&pg=PA88|access-date=15 November 2014|date=15 May 1996|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0-7190-3197-7|page=88}}</ref><ref name="kuhn" /> The same year the magazine was sold to [[Vivendi Universal|C. G. E.]] [[Yann de l'Ecotais]] became the new director and served in the post until 1994, when he was replaced by [[Christine Ockrent]]. In 1995, {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} was sold to CEP communications, a filial of [[Havas]], and [[Denis Jeambar]] became the new director. On 22 April 1996, [[Christophe Barbier]] began working for the magazine as editor-in-chief of the political department.<ref name="Patri2020">{{cite news |last=Patri |first=Alexis |date=26 November 2020 |title=Christophe Barbier ... |trans-title=Christophe Barbier leaves L'Express after almost 25 years within the magazine |url=https://www.europe1.fr/medias-tele/christophe-barbier-quitte-lexpress-apres-presque-25-ans-de-carriere-dans-le-magazine-4008284 |url-status=live |language=fr |work=[[Europe 1]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127193441/https://www.europe1.fr/medias-tele/christophe-barbier-quitte-lexpress-apres-presque-25-ans-de-carriere-dans-le-magazine-4008284 |archive-date=27 November 2022 |access-date=22 June 2022 |trans-quote=Journalist and columnist}}</ref>

In 1998, after Vivendi took control of Havas, the magazine returned under its control. After the collapse of Vivendi, {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} was sold in 2002 to [[Socpresse]] (80% owned by [[Dassault Group]]). From 2001 to 2002, {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} had a circulation of 424,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 50 Finance/Business/News magazines worldwide (by circulation) |url=http://www.magazine.org.tw/events/school/report/wmt/top50finance.pdf |work=Magazine Organization |access-date=13 December 2014 |format=Report |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213185512/http://www.magazine.org.tw/events/school/report/wmt/top50finance.pdf |archive-date=13 December 2014 }}</ref> It was 548,195 copies between 2003 and 2004.<ref>{{cite book|author=E. Martin|title=Marketing Identities Through Language: English and Global Imagery in French Advertising|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvqADAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6|access-date=25 September 2016|date=30 November 2005|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|isbn=978-0-230-51190-3|page=6}}</ref> {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} was acquired by [[Roularta Media Group]] in 2006.<ref name="rou">{{cite web|title=L'Express|url=http://www.roularta.be/en/activities/l-express/Products-1194557985500-RC.html?ParentAssetID=1184687189728&ParentAssetType=Page&ParentPageID=1184687189728|work=Roularta|access-date=1 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101212601/http://www.roularta.be/en/activities/l-express/Products-1194557985500-RC.html?ParentAssetID=1184687189728&ParentAssetType=Page&ParentPageID=1184687189728|archive-date=1 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The same year the circulation of the magazine was 547,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|title=France -- Media Guide 2008|url=https://fas.org/irp/dni/osc/france-media.pdf|work=Open Source Center|access-date=1 March 2015|date=16 July 2008}}</ref> Barbier was the editorial director from 2006 to 2016.<ref name="Patri2020" />

In 2014, Roularta sold {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} to Franco-Israeli billionaire and media entrepreneur [[Patrick Drahi]], founder and owner of [[Altice (company)|Altice]].<ref>{{cite news| date=8 January 2015 |title=Roularta to sell seven French magazines to tycoon Patrick Drahi |url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-roularta-media-m-a/roularta-to-sell-seven-french-magazines-to-tycoon-patrick-drahi-idUSKBN0KH1C020150108 |work=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730041735/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-roularta-media-m-a/roularta-to-sell-seven-french-magazines-to-tycoon-patrick-drahi-idUSKBN0KH1C020150108 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> The magazine had lost several million [[euro]]s due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] crisis.<ref name="LeMonde2021" /> After buying 51% of the capital (the rest remaining in the hands of Altice), [[Alain Weill]] revitalized ''L'Express'' in 2020 by emulating the approach of ''[[The Economist]]''.<ref name="LeMonde2021" /> Weill refocused the magazine on four themes: international, economics, politics, and ideas.<ref name="Lefilliâtre2020">{{cite news |last=Lefilliâtre |first=Jérôme |date=10 January 2020 |title=L'Express version Alain Weill, des 'valeurs libérales' pour les 'décideurs' |trans-title=Alain Weill's version of L'Express, 'liberal values' for 'decision makers' |url=https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/01/10/l-express-version-alain-weill-des-valeurs-liberales-pour-les-decideurs_1772249/ |url-status=live |language=fr |work=[[Libération]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230622181612/https://www.liberation.fr/france/2020/01/10/l-express-version-alain-weill-des-valeurs-liberales-pour-les-decideurs_1772249/ |archive-date=22 June 2023 |access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> New columnists were hired, such as Marion Van Renterghem (renowned reporter and specialized in the European field), Jean-Laurent Cassely (writer and journalist discussing [[Sociology|sociological]] and urban issues), [[Jean-Marc Jancovici]] (engineer, pro-[[Nuclear power|nuclear]], and "pioneer of the climate cause"), Robin Rivaton (liberal essayist, close to [[Bruno Le Maire]] and [[Valérie Pécresse]]), and [[Emmanuelle Mignon]] (ex-director of [[Nicolas Sarkozy]]'s cabinet at the [[Élysée Palace]]).<ref name="Lefilliâtre2020" /> Slowly relaunching the magazine, Weill decided to drop the entertainment news section and focus on an audience of lawyers, business executives, physicians, pharmacists, teachers, and students.<ref name="LeMonde2021" />

In 2021, between 65 and 67 journalists worked for ''L'Express'' out of a total of 120 employees.<ref name="LeMonde2021" /> {{Lang|fr|L'Express}} is published weekly.<ref>{{cite web|author=Christoph Fiedler|title=Processing for direct marketing in the context of the trade journal, magazine and newspaper sector|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201303/20130318ATT63404/20130318ATT63404EN.pdf|publisher=European Magazine Media Association|access-date=7 December 2014|location=Brussels|date=17 December 2012}}</ref>

==Notable staff==
===Journalists===
* [[Raymond Aron]]<ref>{{cite news |date=13 November 1978 |title=M. Raymond Aron dans l'Express: ... |trans-title=Mr Raymond Aron in l'Express: the affair had no need the statements of the President of the Republic |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1978/11/13/m-raymond-aron-dans-l-express-l-affaire-n-avait-nul-besoin-des-declarations-du-president-de-la-republique_2998321_1819218.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Le Monde |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230622183211/https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1978/11/13/m-raymond-aron-dans-l-express-l-affaire-n-avait-nul-besoin-des-declarations-du-president-de-la-republique_2998321_1819218.html |archive-date=22 June 2023 |access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref>
* [[Christophe Barbier]]<ref name="Patri2020"/>
* [[Albert Camus]]<ref name="Cressard2003"/>
* [[Madeleine Chapsal]]<ref name="Cressard2003"/>
* [[Michèle Cotta]]<ref name="Perrignon2011">{{cite news |last=Perrignon |first=Judith |date=2 December 2011 |title=Journalistes et politiques: liaisons dangereuses? |trans-title=Journalists and politicians: dangerous liaisons? |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/m-styles/article/2011/12/02/journalistes-et-politiques-un-bon-menage_1611741_4497319.html |url-status=live |language=fr |work=Le Monde |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230708212953/https://www.lemonde.fr/m-styles/article/2011/12/02/journalistes-et-politiques-un-bon-menage_1611741_4497319.html |archive-date=8 July 2023 |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
* [[Franz-Olivier Giesbert]]
* [[André Gorz]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Burlaud |first=Antony |date=December 2016 |title=André Gorz, vers l'émancipation |trans-title=André Gorz, towards emancipation |url=https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2016/12/BURLAUD/56938 |url-status=live |language=fr |work=[[Le Monde diplomatique]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230623112827/https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2016/12/BURLAUD/56938 |archive-date=23 June 2023 |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
* [[Danièle Heymann]]<ref name="Cressard2003"/>
* [[Jean-François Kahn]]<ref name="Cressard2003"/>
* [[:fr:Christian Makarian|Christian Makarian]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnrseditions.fr/auteur/christian-makarian/ |title=Christian Makarian |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=[[French National Centre for Scientific Research|CNRS Editions]] |access-date=23 June 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230623111109/https://www.cnrseditions.fr/auteur/christian-makarian/ |archive-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
* [[François Mauriac]]<ref name="Cressard2003"/>
* [[Catherine Nay]]<ref name="Perrignon2011"/>
* [[Jean-François Revel]]<ref>{{cite news |date=30 April 2006 |title=Le journaliste et académicien Jean-François Revel est décédé à l'âge de 82 ans |trans-title=Journalist and academician Jean-François Revel died at the age of 82 |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2006/04/30/l-academicien-jean-francois-revel-est-decede-a-l-age-de-82-ans_767109_3236.html |url-status=live |language=fr |newspaper=Le Monde |agency=Agence France-Presse |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213114046/http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2006/04/30/l-academicien-jean-francois-revel-est-decede-a-l-age-de-82-ans_767109_3236.html |archive-date=13 February 2013 |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>

===Collaborators===
* [[André Malraux]]<ref name="Cressard2003"/>
* [[Jean-Paul Sartre]]<ref name="Cressard2003"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.lexpress.fr}}

{{Newspapers in France}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Express}}
[[Category:1953 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Centre-right newspapers]]
[[Category:Conservative media in France]]
[[Category:French-language magazines]]
[[Category:French news websites]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Liberal media in France]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1953]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Paris]]
[[Category:News magazines published in France]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in France]]
[[Category:Weekly news magazines]]