'Le Monde' to be taken over by tycoon who built fortune on porn

[Newsjock]

Source: The Independent (UK)

The journalists of Le Monde, the most prestigious French-language publication in the world, have contemptuously defeated an attempt by President Nicolas Sarkozy to intervene in the sale of their struggling newspaper.

As a result, Le Monde, once known for its uncompromising austerity, will today fall into the hands of the former romantic and business partner of Yves Saint-Laurent and a radical, self-made billionaire who founded his fortune on internet pornography, chat lines and peep shows.

Le Monde's journalists, who have controlled the newspaper for almost half a century, voted by over 90 per cent to accept the majority ownership bid of a consortium headed by Pierre Bergé, 81, the retired fashion impresario, and Xavier Niel, 42, one of France's most successful, and controversial, internet entrepreneurs.

... In 2006 Mr Niel was given a two-year suspended sentence for embezzlement. More recently, he has backed two left-wing, investigative websites in France, Bakchich and Mediapart.

These ventures into radical politics and journalism are believed to be the real reason for Mr Sarkozy's opposition to his part-ownership of Le Monde.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/le-monde-to-be-taken-over-by-tycoon-who-built-fortune-on-porn-2012264.html

[Democat]

1. His fortune was made in telecom

Sensationalist headline from The Independent.

[rpannier]

3. Few people would read if the headline was, "Le Monde purchased by Telecom Billionaire"

nt

[Robert DAH Bruce]

2. "Le Mound" will be the new title

A minor change: Let's not be reactionary! :evilgrin:

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Sounds good to me. Rec

[eowyn_of_rohan]

6. lame

[Stinky The Clown]

7. "crutch"

~?~

:shrug:

[Turbineguy]

5. At least it's not

Rupert Murdoch.