I had doubts until the very last second before addressing this topic, especially on the eve of April Fool’s Day. I thought that a joke would be fitting for this media company followed by 4 million subscribers across all its social networks. With its humor, sense of absurdity, and parodic treatment of our media world, it could have tried to deceive us with the announcement of this print release. Especially since in 2026, investing in newspaper stands and restarting the presses could quickly turn into a joke.
Most media outlets are following the opposite trajectory, like the group Le Monde, which announced a shift in its focus from print to digital, where it will concentrate most of its efforts. So why does Le Gorafi, which originally started in 2012 by parodying Le Figaro, decide to make paper its growth platform? Well, precisely because it knows the web too well and is starting to struggle with the narrow constraints of social networks, which regularly censor or make their articles invisible. Algorithms have no sense of humor and have a hard time understanding satire.
For Sébastien Liebus, the founder, it was essential to take back control of content distribution, and a print newspaper is the ideal medium for him to keep in touch with an audience that embraces their world. Like the show Groland, which was a hit on Canal +, Le Gorafi takes satire seriously.
In this first monthly issue, distributed to 30,000 copies, there are 16 pages of articles and fake ads, cold articles that still work like “La Sagrada Familia announces the end of its scaffolding construction,” lifestyle pages like “Unusual – He doesn’t get back into sports after a breakup” or “A cat uses his cat tree,” cultural pieces like “Indochine concert turns into a tragedy: 15 songs,” and classified ads such as “Man with a press card offers babysitting for young teenagers (14-16 years old). Contact at Jean-MarcMorandini@wanadoo.fr”.
In the wake of The Onion, transitioning from digital to print is possible because the media can draw on international examples within the satirical press industry. For example, The Onion, which is a reference in the US, resumed its print distribution in 2024 with great success. It is even more widely read than historical regional newspapers whose sales are declining. The same goes for Germany, where Der Postillon’s printed version found an audience in kiosks that didn’t want to be bothered by notifications that disrupt reading.
Le Gorafi can also count on synergies, as the group La Dépêche du Midi, recently entering the capital of DC Company, which owns the satirical media outlet, has made its presses available while sharing its expertise as a press printer. “Finally a good reason to cut down trees,” proudly proclaims the newspaper, recognizing that it can always be used to start a barbecue.
Reading this first issue, I feel that behind the mockery and parody, there is a passion for the press, an art of headlines, and a beautiful way to introduce some to paper and kiosks, which really need to be loved. Le Gorafi will naturally find its place not far from Le Figaro.
