La Libre Belgique
Encyclopedia
La Libre Belgique is a Belgian
newspaper
in French
. In Belgium, it can be roughly seen as an equivalent of Flemish De Standaard
. The paper is widely perceived as pro-catholic
. Along with another high circulation French-speaking newspaper Le Soir
, it dominates the market of Wallonia and the French speaking part of Brussels
.
La Libre Belgique was founded in February 1915 by the brothers Louis and Victor Jourdain who had been active in the world of newspapers. The paper was initially secretly published in Belgium which at the time was occupied by the Germans
. Hence, the name which was at the same time a reference to the collaborationist paper La Belgique. Several weeks before the end of the hostilities, both of the Jourdain brothers died of natural causes. Their work was continued by Victor’s two sons Joseph and Paul Jourdain.
The newspaper was also published secretly during World War II by Julien Seres.
In 1959 the paper reached a record circulation of 190 thousand copies. However, by 1999 it had dropped to 68 212 copies. The current editor in chief is Vincent Slits.
The paper was noted widely as one of the papers involved in a feud with Google relating to which content that could be linked and cached by Google. In July 2011, the paper was totally removed from Google News and Googles normal web search. The paper can however now be found again by Google Web Search.
, appeared in the 1942 feature film Uncensored
and the 1941 documentary short Out of Darkness, part of The Passing Parade series.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. In Belgium, it can be roughly seen as an equivalent of Flemish De Standaard
De Standaard
De Standaard is a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Corelio . Circulation was about 102.280 in 2007. It was traditionally a Christian-Democratic paper, associated with the Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party, and in opposition to the Socialist Flemish daily De Morgen...
. The paper is widely perceived as pro-catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Along with another high circulation French-speaking newspaper Le Soir
Le Soir
Le Soir is a Berliner Format Belgian newspaper. Le Soir was founded in 1887 by Emile Rossel. It is the most popular Francophone newspaper in Belgium, and considered a newspaper of record.-Editorial stance:...
, it dominates the market of Wallonia and the French speaking part of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
La Libre Belgique was founded in February 1915 by the brothers Louis and Victor Jourdain who had been active in the world of newspapers. The paper was initially secretly published in Belgium which at the time was occupied by the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
. Hence, the name which was at the same time a reference to the collaborationist paper La Belgique. Several weeks before the end of the hostilities, both of the Jourdain brothers died of natural causes. Their work was continued by Victor’s two sons Joseph and Paul Jourdain.
The newspaper was also published secretly during World War II by Julien Seres.
In 1959 the paper reached a record circulation of 190 thousand copies. However, by 1999 it had dropped to 68 212 copies. The current editor in chief is Vincent Slits.
The paper was noted widely as one of the papers involved in a feud with Google relating to which content that could be linked and cached by Google. In July 2011, the paper was totally removed from Google News and Googles normal web search. The paper can however now be found again by Google Web Search.
Films
Aspects of the newspaper's history reflecting the Belgian ResistanceBelgian resistance
Belgian resistance during World War II to the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany took different forms. "The Belgian Resistance" was the common name for the Netwerk van de weerstand - Réseau de Résistance or Resistance Network , a group of partisans fighting the Nazis...
, appeared in the 1942 feature film Uncensored
Uncensored (film)
Uncensored is a 1942 British World War II drama, directed by Anthony Asquith for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Eric Portman and Phyllis Calvert...
and the 1941 documentary short Out of Darkness, part of The Passing Parade series.
Further reading
- Albert van de Kerckhove, L'histoire merveilleuse de La Libre Belgique, A. Dewit, 1919