Bibliosurf reaches 100 articles

On Friday, October 30, the "Lire l'époque" section of Bibliosurf will publish its 100th article, created last June. The section was designed to move away from bibliographic lists, offering articles with a real reading axis. It uses a generative AI model (Claude) to propose a plan and write the article, which is then corrected and validated by Bernard Strainchamps. The articles are signed "Corpus and editing Bernard Strainchamps" and are freely accessible. The section has six families: Current Events, Major Subject, Season, Territory, Data, Prize, and now includes great series. The next two series are "Journalists writers, in six parts" and "How is a chronicle written, in eight parts."

Media and publishing updates

Other developments in media and publishing include the return of the cultural and societal magazine Actuel on October 29, 2026, under the direction of journalist Vincent Bernière, and the sale of the luxury pole of Prisma Media to Vivendi. The Louis Hachette Group confirmed the sale of the luxury pole of Prisma Media (the magazines Harper's Bazaar France, Milk, Ideat, Côté Maison or The Good Life) to Vivendi. Prisma Media also announced the elimination of 261 positions, or 40% of its workforce.

Media ownership changes

Michel Onfray sold his magazine Front Populaire to Lagardère Media News, a subsidiary of Louis Hachette Group, whose Bolloré SE owns about 30% of the capital. The magazine, which claims to be "sovereignist," was created in 2020 by Onfray and journalist and producer Stéphane Simon. The National Institute of Consumption (INC) was liquidated, opening a new phase of uncertainty for its main title, 60 Millions de consommateurs, now in search of a buyer.

Disney and media licensing

The Walt Disney Company confirmed that the Italian group Panini will take over, starting April 1, 2027, the edition of French Disney youth magazines, ending the license held since 2019 by Unique Heritage Media (UHM). The ADAGP opened applications for the 2026 edition of its Bourse Fanzine, aimed at supporting micro-publishing and independent artistic projects. Twenty artists or artist collectives will be selected and each will receive a 1000 euro grant to carry out a fanzine project. Applications are open until Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

Collaborations and new initiatives

ActuaLitté and Books.fr announced a collaboration based on trust and complementarity, without any shareholding or capitalist rapprochement. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) opened a France bureau, based in Paris, to strengthen its action in metropolitan France and in overseas territories. As major electoral events approach - the municipal elections in March 2026 and the presidential election in May 2027 - the organization intends to consolidate its work to ensure the right to "reliable, independent, and pluralistic information."

Literary figures and events

The literary critic Philippe-Jean Catinchi died at 68. A historian by training, journalist, and literary critic, he died on July 10, 2026. A collaborator of Le Monde since 1994, he mainly wrote for Le Monde des livres, where he reported on novels, historical essays, foreign literature, comics, and books for young people. The Cercle d'Art editions and the Agence France-Presse (AFP) are partnering to publish a collection of books built from their photo archives. The first volumes, devoted to the years 1980 and 1990, are expected in October, before an extension to the two previous decades planned for spring 2027.

Media rebranding and expansion

The Booksletter, a message to readers, and a new website were introduced after the summer break. The return is not limited to books: it also concerns Books. The new website offers faster navigation, better accessible archives, enhanced search engine, and new editorial organization, marking a new stage in the development of the media with the ambition to expand its contents and consolidate its economic model. The commercial court of Nantes entrusted Le Journal des Entreprises to the Overlord group, already owner of Le Revenu, Le Nouvel Économiste, and Le Monde Informatique. The operation, concluded for 40,000 euros, leads to the departure of all 35 permanent journalists of the title.

Cultural and historical projects

Walid Hajar Rachedi investigated the promises of the American dream on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, celebrated on July 4, 2026. Frictions published "What remains of the American dream?" a mini-documentary series in podcast format produced from an investigation conducted in Atlanta. The Revue Esprit welcomed a new editor-in-chief for the new term, researcher and journalist Pierre Benetti, who mentioned "the honor" of joining "this space of intellectual freedom and independence since its creation in 1932."