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| Rue89 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rue89 |
| Type | Online newspaper |
| Language | French |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Pierre Haski; Pascal Riché; Laurent Mauriac; Arnaud Aubron; Michel Lévy-Provençal; Georges-Marc Benamou |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
Rue89
Rue89 was a French online news outlet founded in 2007 that combined investigative journalism, commentary, and participatory reporting. It emerged from a cohort of journalists who left established media to create a digitally native platform, emphasizing transparency, multimedia, and reader contributions. Over its lifespan Rue89 engaged with national debates in France, intersecting with major media organizations, political movements, and journalistic networks.
A group of journalists led by Pierre Haski and Pascal Riché left Libération and launched the outlet in the wake of disputes that echoed debates around editorial independence at Le Monde and France 2. The founding moment occurred amid the 2007 presidential campaign featuring Nicolas Sarkozy and Ségolène Royal, a context that shaped early coverage linking the outlet to broader media realignments involving figures from AFP and Reuters. In the ensuing years the site covered events such as the 2008 financial crisis, the 2009 French regional elections, and the emergence of social movements exemplified by Nuit debout. Staff turnover included departures and hires from organizations like France Inter, Canal+, and La Vie; collaborations and rivalries developed with digital pioneers such as Mediapart and legacy outlets including Le Figaro.
The editorial approach blended investigative pieces, cultural criticism, and participatory blogs, producing reportage on scandals comparable to investigations by Le Monde diplomatique and exposés seen at Libération. Content formats ranged from long-form articles to video reports akin to work produced by Arte and multimedia storytelling reminiscent of projects by The Guardian's online team. The outlet built beats covering French politics linked to actors like François Hollande and policy debates influenced by institutions such as Assemblée nationale (France) and Conseil constitutionnel (France). Cultural coverage intersected with festivals and awards like Cannes Film Festival and Prix Goncourt, while technology reporting addressed issues around platforms such as Google and Twitter. Contributors included journalists with ties to Agence France-Presse and commentators who had appeared on programs on BFM TV and France Télévisions.
Initially financed by founders and angel investors, the site experimented with advertising models similar to online strategies used by The New York Times and membership schemes akin to ProPublica's funding approaches. Over time ownership structures changed through investments and acquisitions involving media groups comparable to Groupe Le Monde and digital ventures in the European market like Schibsted. Revenue streams combined display advertising, branded content collaborations with cultural institutions like Centre Pompidou, and later subscription initiatives that mirrored shifts at outlets such as The Washington Post. Corporate governance referenced practices observed at media conglomerates including Vivendi and regulatory frameworks involving entities like Autorité de la concurrence.
The publication cultivated an audience among urban readers in Paris and other French regions, overlapping with demographics targeted by Télérama, Les Inrockuptibles, and academic readers from institutions such as Sciences Po. Its investigative pieces influenced public debate and were cited in proceedings before bodies like Conseil d'État (France) and in parliamentary questions by deputies at the Assemblée nationale (France). Coverage of social issues resonated with movements including labor actions by unions like CGT and debates around immigration involving organizations such as SOS Racisme. The outlet contributed to digital journalism practices discussed at conferences organized by Reporters Without Borders and academic forums at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
The site and its journalists were involved in legal disputes and defamation cases similar to litigation faced by peers like Mediapart and Le Monde, often adjudicated in courts such as the Cour de cassation (France) or the Tribunal de grande instance (France). Specific reporting drew complaints from political figures comparable to Arnaud Montebourg or corporate actors akin to executives at BNP Paribas; some cases prompted debates on press freedom involving institutions like Haute Autorité pour la Diffusion des Œuvres et la Protection des Droits sur Internet and non-governmental advocates such as Reporters Without Borders. Editorial decisions and moderation of reader contributions spurred internal disputes paralleling controversies at other participatory platforms such as Slate and The Huffington Post.
The outlet and its journalists received recognition in French and international journalism circles, earning distinctions similar to prizes awarded by organizations like Prix Albert Londres and accolades presented at festivals such as the Festival international du journalisme. Individual reporters were shortlisted for awards comparable to those from Syndicat National des Journalistes and honored by cultural institutions like Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée. Its innovation in digital reporting was cited in industry analyses alongside pioneers like The Huffington Post and BuzzFeed News.
Category:French news websites