80 YEARS OF MIDI LIBRE. Midi Libre, the adventure of “exact, precise and free” information for 80 years

L’atelier de composition de la rue d’Alger. Archives Midi Libre

Midi Libre n’a cessé de développer de nouvelles ambitions en dépit des tumultes inévitables d’un quotidien de presse. Cette année 2024, le quotidien fête ses 80 ans avec de nouveaux projets.

Since its first publication on August 27, 1944, Midi Libre has developed, not without some occasional turmoil. As in 1946, when, after two years of existence, Emmanuel Gambardella, a sports journalist – later to become president of the French Football Federation (from 1949 to 1953) and creator of the famous cup – found himself president of Midi Libre in place of Jacques Bellon.

A 1944 law required that press bosses be of French nationality. However, Jacques Bellon, whose real name was Armand Labin, was of Romanian origin. To take over the running of the newspaper, he had to be naturalized. In the meantime, he was appointed deputy general manager. Maurice Bujon becomes editor-in-chief.

Midi Libre, a long history of 80 years already…

At the beginning of the 50s, the newspaper was experiencing difficulties. Between the lack of means and the competition, it was difficult to win over readers. But the managers demonstrated an avant-garde marketing sense by creating the Midi Libre cycling Grand Prix. Thus, the race of small queens allowed advertising for the title to reach another dimension.

On January 8, 1950, the regional daily published its first Sunday edition. Since that date, it has always been the highest circulation of the week. The rotary presses were running their cylinders at full speed in the early 50s. Émile Bessières, in the sales department, was a hard worker and uncompromising.

In 1953, Midi Libre became a partner of the first Feria de Nîmes. Three years later, while the newspaper was embarking on a modernization plan, Jacques Bellon died at the age of only 50. The head of Midi Libre was replaced five days later by Maurice Bujon. It was under his leadership that Midi Libre voyages were created in 1962 and Midi Libre Tiercé in 1964. The title also joined forces with the largest advertising agency of the time, Havas.

With the arrival of repatriates, the Trente Glorieuses, news items such as the Dominici affair or the affair of the cursed bread in Pont-Saint-Esprit, Midi Libre offers a rich news story that appeals to its readership. May 68 will put a week's pause on the regional daily. But this episode does not weaken the title which launches into free information with Présence, the following year.

In 1973, the Region pages are born

During the 70s, Midi Libre is in a state of grace. In 1973, the Region pages were created by Jean Oddoz, the deputy editor-in-chief at the time. Two years later, the Journal de Millau came under the Midi Libre umbrella, which moved in 1978 to the Mas de Grille in Saint-Jean-de-Védas, near Montpellier, where it installed its new rotary press.

Today, your regional daily Midi Libre is still installed on the Mas de Grille site in Saint-Jean-de-Védas. M. E. – M. E.
The end of the 70s was crowned by the launch of Cahier Sports on Monday, February 5, 1979. Robert Scotto became the new editor-in-chief for three years.

In 1982, Maurice Bujon handed over his position as general manager to his son Claude. The same year, Midi Libre would nibble away at new territories with the acquisition of Centre Presse, then L’Indépendant, four years later.

While Paul Katz was editor-in-chief, in June 1987, the newspaper experienced its first social conflict. The 90s saw the creation of Temps Libre and the economic supplement Ressources and the promotion of Alain Plombat as editor-in-chief. But a major conflict would leave its mark: that of June 1997. While the new Wifag rotary press came into operation at the beginning of the summer, the book trade union called a strike.

For several weeks, Midi Libre did not come out. A year later, Claude Bujon was ousted, forced by the majority votes of the board of directors. Pierre Fabre Laboratories, which had entered the shareholding, appointed their director José Frèches in his place.

Before Le Monde took back full control of the title in 2000. Roger Antech became editor-in-chief from 2003 to 2008 and Alain Plombat, former editor-in-chief, chairman and CEO in 2007. Then Midi Libre was bought by the Sud-Ouest group before being sold to La Dépêche du Midi in 2015. The Toulouse group bought what is now called Les journaux du Midi and which includes Midi Libre, Centre Presse and L'Indépendant. The Group is chaired until 2022 by Bernard Maffre.

Midilibre.fr, a site that is still booming. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Since then, the group has developed information on the Internet with the Midilibre.fr site which reaches more than 60 million visitors per month, as well as numerous projects such as podcasts and video. 80 years after its first publication, Jean-Benoît Baylet, who today directs Midi Libre, has both developed new ambitions and retained those of the beginnings written by Jacques Bellon in his first editorial, on August 27, 1944: “Exact information, precise information, free criticism”.