Global press directory: daily papers, radio and news sites

PresseTahiti.com lists the daily newspapers, news sites, agencies, radio stations and public broadcasters of more than a hundred countries, in French, English and Arabic, with guides by country, by region, by Belgian theme and by Tahitian topic for following the news online.

Why does this directory come from Papeete?

The site was born in French Polynesia, thousands of kilometres from the big newsrooms of Paris, London or New York. That starting point explains the room given to Tahiti, to the French overseas territories and to a view of the world from the Pacific.

How each guide is organised

Every guide covers a country, a regional group or a specific theme. It sets out the history of the local press, the main daily papers, the national agency and the public broadcaster, followed by a checked, regularly updated list of titles you can read online.

Europe, from London to Athens

Europe is home to papers of record such as Le Monde, The Guardian, the Süddeutsche Zeitung, El País and the Corriere della Sera. The European press by country hub then leads on to the German, Spanish, Italian, Swiss, Irish and Greek guides.

Sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb

From Dakar to Nairobi, the African media scene mixes state dailies founded after independence, private titles and widely read mobile sites. The hub on the African press online sits alongside the Maghreb hub, where Arabic, French and Tamazight are used side by side.

The Arab world and the Gulf

From Lebanon to Oman, national dailies share the field with pan-Arab channels based in Doha, Dubai or Riyadh. Many newsrooms also publish an English edition, handy for readers who do not know Arabic, and some even run a French version.

The Americas, Asia and Oceania

Guides cover the United States, Quebec, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Haiti, then China, India, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam. On the Pacific side, Australia and New Zealand each have their own dedicated pages with national titles and broadcasters.

Tahiti and the French overseas territories

Radio, television, weather, Faa'a airport timetables and the ferries to Moorea each have their own guide. The page on Tahiti newspapers gathers the Polynesian press, while the overseas departments and territories stretch from the Caribbean to Réunion.

Why is the Belgian section so detailed?

Belgium gets an unusually fine thematic breakdown: Flemish, Walloon, German-speaking, sports, business, women's and motoring press. The Belgian national press entry point helps readers find their way between Le Soir, La Libre Belgique, De Standaard and their many competitors.

What global news agencies do

AFP in Paris, Reuters in London and the Associated Press in New York supply much of the wire copy republished everywhere. Each country guide also names the national agency, often state-owned, which carries official statements and announces public appointments.

International radio and television

RFI, France 24, BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera stream live online in several languages. They give a first look at a country before you turn to local media, which cover domestic politics and social issues in far greater depth.

Free access, subscriptions and digital editions

The Financial Times, The New York Times and Le Monde keep part of their journalism for subscribers, whereas many African, Arab and Pacific sites remain free. Digital newsstands also sell PDF replicas that reproduce the printed editions page by page.

Cross-check sources before you share

The same election in Algiers, Washington or Nouméa will be told differently by each newsroom. Comparing a national daily, an agency and a foreign outlet, and checking the publication date and author, keeps you from spreading a rumour or an old story.

Following a country's news from abroad

1. Pick the region in the menu, then open the country guide to find the leading daily and an independent news site.
2. Add the national agency feed, such as APS, MAP or ANSA, to see official announcements in their raw form.
3. Stream the country's public radio, or turn to RFI and the BBC when the local language is a barrier.
4. Set up keyword alerts or install the mobile apps of your chosen titles so major stories reach you quickly.
5. Each week, compare two outlets with different editorial lines, one close to the government and one more critical.
6. Check the date, byline and quoted source before reposting any story on social media.

Reading the world's press: free or paid

Key facts for reading the international press

• Site languages: French, English and Arabic
• Global agencies: AFP, Reuters, Associated Press
• International broadcasters: RFI, France 24, BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle
• Eight main regions: Europe, Africa, the Maghreb, the Arab world, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, French overseas territories
• Specialist sections: financial press and Islamic press
• Site reference time zone: Tahiti, UTC-10
• Subscription currencies: euro, US dollar, pound sterling or local currency

Common traps when reading foreign newspapers

• Mistaking a fake site with a copied logo for a real daily: the address often differs by a single letter or extension, which is enough to fool a hurried reader.
• Taking a satirical site such as Le Gorafi or The Onion at face value when its headlines circulate on social media without context.
• Forgetting that state media mainly reflect their government's official line and are no substitute for an independent newsroom.
• Sharing as fresh news a wire story published several years earlier, simply because the date at the top went unchecked.
• Using paywall bypass sites, which expose you to malware and deprive newspapers of the revenue they need.

Questions about the PresseTahiti directory