How a breakaway group of journalists created a French media powerhouse in 1972

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from a mass resignation at L'Express, Le Point emerged as a major conservative voice in French media. By modeling itself after American giants like Time and Newsweek, the weekly magazine quickly established its own identity, eventually becoming a cornerstone of French political discourse under the ownership of billionaire François Pinault.

The story of Le Point began in 1972, when a group of journalists left the editorial team of L'Express. Led by figures like Claude Imbert, Jacques Duquesne, and Georges Suffert, the founders sought to redefine the French news magazine genre. Their vision was heavily influenced by the structure and style of American publications such as Time and Newsweek. Despite a challenging launch, the magazine rapidly gained traction, securing financial backing from Hachette and positioning itself as a primary competitor to the very publication its founders had abandoned.

Over the decades, the magazine has navigated a complex corporate history. It was acquired by Gaumont in 1981, followed by a 1993 purchase of a majority stake by Generale Occidentale. Since 1997, it has been owned by Artémis, the investment group of billionaire François Pinault. This period of stability under Pinault’s ownership has seen the magazine maintain its conservative, centre-right editorial stance, though it remains independent of any specific political party. The publication is headquartered in the 14th arrondissement of Paris and continues to release influential features, such as its annual corporate reputation barometer.

The magazine's influence is not without controversy. In early 2025, it found itself at the center of a digital dispute involving a Wikipedia editor. The conflict arose over edits characterizing the magazine as populist and aligned with right-wing movements, leading to allegations of intimidation which the magazine and its staff firmly denied. Beyond these skirmishes, Le Point remains one of the three major French news magazines, consistently shaping public opinion through its weekly Thursday editions. Its evolution from a rebellious startup to a media institution reflects the broader shifts in the French journalistic landscape over the last half-century.

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