“In 2002, the battle was far from being won. We can only recall the challenges we faced when we started to establish ourselves, the difficult negotiations with trade unions,” said Metro director, Valérie Decamp.

Now though, free papers have created their own market. “We have proven that we don’t just republish newswires. We’re a reference title, with our own style,” said Pierre-Jean Bozo, president of 20 Minutes.

20 Minutes is the third most-read national daily, trailing behind L’Equipe and Aujourd’hui en France, while Metro is fifth, just behind Le Monde.

Renowned political figures regularly give interview to Metro and 20 Minutes, showing how credible these have become.

In response to this competition and success of the free papers, five regional papers have launched their own free daily, all associated under the group Ville Plus. Le Monde and the Bolloré group just launched their own, Matin Plus.

“The overall results are very positive for the daily press on a whole: it created new offers, particularly outside of Paris, and has forced the traditional press to reform themselves from the inside,” said Jean Clément Texier, media specialist.

Le Monde, Le Figaro, L’Humanité, La Croix and La Tribune all launched new formulas, either by launching their own free paper, or emphasizing online services, or diversifying their activities.

Still, despite national paid-for newspapers’ new ventures, these lost 1.1% of their readers in 2005-006, while freesheets gained 9.8%.

Still, free papers’ business model isn’t perfected. Only Metro is profitable so far. “We’re in a conquering period, but don’t lie to yourself, there will eventually only be one or two freesheets per country, no more,” said Texier.

Source: AFP