Liberation celebrates its 50th anniversary

On April 18, 1973, the very first issue of Liberation appeared, with an already catchy title, “Take your newspaper in hand”. The daily wants to be without advertising or financial shareholders. It relies on the generosity of its readers. Rooted very far to the left, the editorial line is clear: give the floor to the people. Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the founders, will lead Liberation for a year before giving way to Serge July. Over the years, the newspaper grew, as did the number of its subscribers. Until 1981, when the daily went through several crises, which led to a redundancy plan. Libé disappears from newsstands for three weeks. It is published again just after the election of François Mitterrand, with a revisited style.

Solidarity with Charlie

The newspaper with an alternative tone becomes more generalist. Advertising and shareholders are now part of everyday life. Then a new crisis occurred in the 2000s, in a print media market that had become uncertain. Serge July gives way to Laurent Joffrin, who tries to put the newspaper back together. In 2015, after the deadly Charlie Hebdo attacks, Libé, true to its convictions, opened its doors to survivors of journalists.