Malagasy press online: newspapers and media of Madagascar

The Madagascar press revolves around Antananarivo dailies such as Midi Madagasikara, L'Express de Madagascar and Les Nouvelles, published in French and Malagasy, alongside sites like 2424.mg, the public radio RNM and the TVM television channel, nearly all free online.

From nineteenth-century mission papers to today's press

The story of the Malagasy press begins under the Merina monarchy, with Malagasy-language sheets printed by the Protestant missions of Antananarivo. French colonial rule then brought French-language titles, before independence in 1960 opened the way to a bilingual national press.

Midi Madagasikara, L'Express, Les Nouvelles: who reads what?

Midi Madagasikara, founded in 1983, remains the most widely read daily in the capital, mixing politics, business and sport. L'Express de Madagascar is valued for its editorials, while Les Nouvelles, part of the Newsmada group, covers national news around the clock.

French or Malagasy: choosing a reading language

Most of the leading Antananarivo titles publish in French, but many offer pages or editions in Malagasy, such as Ao Raha from Newsmada. Private and rural radio stations broadcast mainly in Malagasy, with regional variants depending on the province.

What to read on Toamasina, Mahajanga or Fianarantsoa?

The print press remains heavily focused on Antananarivo. For Toamasina, Mahajanga, Fianarantsoa or Toliara, regional correspondents of the national dailies and local radio stations are often the only sources, with regional news sections posted online every day.

News websites and mobile pages

2424.mg, Madonline and Madagascar Tribune represent the Malagasy digital press, offering quick news briefs and political analysis. Many readers also follow the Facebook pages of the dailies, widely used in Madagascar, where mobile internet is by far the main gateway to news.

The role of the Taratra national agency

The Taratra National Information Agency, known by its initials ANTA, distributes official statements, ministry activities and institutional dispatches. It serves as the reference point for checking an appointment, a decree or a presidential trip reported by the private press.

TVM and RNM, Madagascar's public broadcasters

Televiziona Malagasy (TVM) and Radio Nasionaly Malagasy (RNM) make up the public broadcasting service. Their news bulletins, aired in Malagasy and French, stream live online, alongside private channels that are often owned by political figures.

Keeping up from the Malagasy diaspora in France

The Malagasy diaspora, strongly present in the Paris region and on Reunion Island, follows the Antananarivo dailies online. For news from the wider Indian Ocean, also see the Reunion Island press and the Mauritian press online, which regularly cover Madagascar.

Business, vanilla and rugby in the papers

Business pages track the ariary, vanilla exports, nickel from Ambatovy and Jirama, the state water and electricity company. In sport, rugby, a true national passion, and the Barea football team take up generous space in Midi Madagasikara.

Press freedom: context worth knowing

Malagasy media are numerous and pluralistic, yet several channels and newspapers belong to politicians or business figures. Election periods, such as the 2023 presidential race, see editorial lines become sharply polarised according to who owns each outlet.

How to cross-check a story from Madagascar

Always compare two dailies with different owners, then check the Taratra agency or RNM for the official version. International French-language media and the African press online page help place a Malagasy story in its regional context.

Free or paid: reading the Antananarivo press

The websites of Midi Madagasikara, L'Express de Madagascar and Les Nouvelles are largely free and funded by advertising. Print editions are sold at Antananarivo newsstands, and some full digital versions require a subscription paid in ariary.

Following Madagascar news from abroad

1. Pick a reference daily such as Midi Madagasikara, plus a fast site like 2424.mg for the day's news briefs.
2. Add dispatches from the Taratra agency to get the official version of decisions taken by the Malagasy government.
3. Listen to RNM or watch the TVM news live online to hear current affairs in Malagasy.
4. Follow the Facebook pages of the Antananarivo dailies, which post their articles as soon as they go online.
5. Compare L'Express de Madagascar and Les Nouvelles on the same political story to gauge differences in tone.
6. Check the date of every Malagasy article shared on social media, since old crises often resurface in circulation.

Access to Malagasy media and subscriptions

Practical pointers on the Malagasy press

• Press languages: French and Malagasy
• News agency: Taratra National Information Agency (ANTA)
• Public broadcasting: TVM for television, RNM for radio
• Most-read daily: Midi Madagasikara
• Bilingual press group: Newsmada (Les Nouvelles, Ao Raha)
• Time zone: UTC+3, Antananarivo time
• Subscription currency: ariary (MGA)

Reading traps in the Malagasy press

• Assuming a private Madagascar channel is neutral, when several TV and radio stations belong to politicians and defend their positions.
• Mistaking a Facebook page imitating Midi Madagasikara or L'Express for the real newspaper, when the name or logo differs slightly.
• Sharing an old article about a Jirama power cut or a political crisis without checking that it dates from this week.
• Confusing an official statement relayed word for word by TVM with an independent journalistic investigation into the same issue.
• Ignoring articles in Malagasy, which sometimes give details missing from the French versions published by the same daily.

Your questions about Malagasy newspapers