Getting to Know France
Overview of the Country
Reading about France
Books & Encyclopedias
Browsing Areas and Subject Headings
Newspapers
Travel Guides
Travel Web Sites
Films
Geography and Maps
Language
Fiinding Newspapers Online
Many major French newspapers publish their articles online at the same time they are published in print. Much of their material is free and available to web visitors. Several newspapers are listed below, along with the cities where they are published. If you will be traveling to another region of France, try searching online for a link to that newspaper. Have fun learning about French life through its daily news.
The major newspaper of Paris, and arguably of France, is Le Monde.
Its articles are published online in full text at the
LeMonde.fr web site. It is updated continuously. In French.
For news of the Alsace region, as well as the world, turn to Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace. Its news web site is divided into world, French, Alsatian, football, economic, and other clearly-labeled sections. It is updated continuously, and available exclusively in French.
The
International Herald-Tribune, published in
Neuilly, France, is one of few major French newspapers to offer an English edition. IHT
primarily offers European perspectives on international news, rather than purely French news.
Updated continuously.
Students traveling to Lyon will want to keep up with news through
Le Progrès. This major newspaper is available online, only in French. It focuses on local, regional, and
French news.
Internet News Sources
The Internet is a convenient way to catch up on news while you're abroad. Below are several reliable sources of French news, in English or French.
Agence France-Presse, a major international news agency, provides coverage of world news events, as well as some
cultural features. They do not provide significant coverage of "local" French news. You can select your choice of
languages from a toolbar along the top of the web page. English, French, and others are available for all stories. Updated
continuously.
BBC News' European portal covers all of Europe. France, as a neighbor of the UK, receives extensive coverage. When you read a news story, look on the right side of the page for links to related stories and
country information. If you want to brush up on your French, try switching to the
Africa portal. Ironically, this is available in French, while the Europe portal is not. Updated continuously.
Expatica's target audience is English-speaking expatriates living in France. It primarily covers French current events,
and French perspectives on world events. Additional sections include "Leisure," "Relocation,"
and "Employment." Beware, this will talk you into moving to France. In English; updated daily.
Radio
The radio is a major source of news for many French natives. Some radio news stories are also available through internet audio, or as podcasts.
FranceInfo is a favorite for both French and
international news. It also provides information about upcoming cultural events within France. This is France's national source of Radio France. It also has an excellent news web site.
Radio France is also
available in an international version, Radio France Internationale (RFI). RFI's news coverage
is similar to that of FranceInfo, but it is aimed at an international audience. News reports are in French, in both audio
and print form.
