Charlie Hebdo Article Index for
Charlie
Website Links For
Charlie
 

Information About

Charlie Hebdo





HISTORY

, the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris]]
In 1960 , Georges Bernier , alias "Professeur Choron", and François Cavanna launched a monthly magazine entitled '' Hara-Kiri '' ("a stupid and bitter newspaper"). Choron acted as the director of publication and Cavanna as its editor. Eventually Cavanna gathered together a team which included Roland Topor , Fred Othon Aristidès , Jean-Marc Reiser , Georges Wolinski , Georges "Gébé" Blondeaux , and Jean "Cabu" Cabut .

The publication was interdicted in 1961 , but reappeared in 1966 . Certain collaborators did not return along with the newspaper, such as Gébé , Cabu , Topor, and Fred. New members of the team included Delfeil De Ton , Pierre Fournier , and Bernhard Willem Holtrop .


1969 - 1981


In 1971, the team decided to change their monthly publication to a weekly one. Gébé and Cabu returned. In February 1969, ''Hara-kiri-hebdo'' is launched, and then named ''L'hebdo hara-kiri'' in May of the same year.

In November of 1970, Charles De Gaulle died, ten days before a club fire caused the death of 146. The newspaper released a cover entitled ''Tragic Ball in Colombey, one dead.'' ( Colombey was the location of the residency of de Gaulle and of his death). As a result, the journal was once more forbidden, this time by the Minister Of The Interior .

To keep their journal from being permanently banned, the team decided to change its title. It became ''Charlie Hebdo.'' The new title came from a monthly magazine called ''Charlie,'' which had been started by Bernier and de Ton in 1968, and also a reference to de Gaulle. ''Charlie'' took its name from the lead character of Peanuts .

In December 1981, the publication ceased, owing to a lack of readers.


1992


From a historical standpoint, there is no direct continuity between the ''Charlie Hebdo'' of 1992 and that of its earlier years.

Gébé, Cabu, and Val collaborated on ''La Grosse Bertha ( Big Bertha ),'' a weekly magazine created in 1991, which did not share a bond with ''Hara-Kiri / Charlie Hebdo.''
Later, the three called upon Cavanna, de Ton and Wolinski, requesting their help and input. They agreed without hesitation.
Soon after, while searching for a new title over dinner, Wolinski proposed ''Charlie Hebdo,'' which was immediately accepted.

Thus, the publication of the new ''Charlie Hebdo'' began in July of 1992. It profited from the notoriety of its namesake, and was treated as a republication of old.

Professeur Choron tried to restart a weekly ''Hara-Kiri,'' but its publication was short-lived.


From 1992 on...


In the new ''Charlie Hebdo,'' Val, Gébé and Cabu hold all the responsibilities. Val serves as editor and Gébé as artistic director. Under Val's direction, the journal carries an extreme leftist view.

It is felt that the current publication does not have continuity or stability, and several collaborators have left the newspaper.

It is published every Wednesday and sometimes issues a few editions variably.

''Charlie Hebdo'' is respected as being nonconformist and liberal, and remains symbolic of the press having a certain freedom of tone.


2004


Following the death of Gébé, Val succeeded him as director of the publication, while still holding his position as editor.


2006

guarding the Charlie Hebdo offices following the publication of the cartoons]]
Instant controversy arose over this publication's edition of February 8 , 2006 . Under the title "Mahomet débordé par les intégristes" ( '' Muhammad overwhelmed by fundamentalists'' ), the front page showed a cartooon of a weeping Prophet Muhammad saying "C'est dur d'être aimé par des cons" ( ''It's hard to be loved by morons'' ). The newspaper reprinted the ten cartoons of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy and added some of their own.

Compared to a regular circulation of 100,000 sold copies, this edition was a great commercial success. 160,000 copies were sold, another 150,000 were in print later that day.

In response French President Jacques Chirac condemned "overt provocations" which could inflame passions. "Anything that can hurt the convictions of someone else, in particular religious convictions, should be avoided," Chirac said.


SEE ALSO



BIBLIOGRAPHY


  • ''La bande à Charlie'' (Charlie Hebdo). Stock, 1976. by Jean Egen .



EXTERNAL LINKS