Media of Martinique: from the daily paper to Creole websites

In Martinique, people read France-Antilles and the weekly Antilla, listen to RCI Martinique, watch Martinique La 1ère or ViaATV and follow websites such as Bondamanjak or ZayActu, in French and Martinican Creole, almost all available online.

From Saint-Pierre to Fort-de-France, a long press history

Before 1902, Saint-Pierre was the island's cultural capital and had several newspapers, including Les Colonies, destroyed along with the town by the eruption of Mount Pelée. The press then moved to Fort-de-France, where the weekly Justice, founded in 1920, still appears.

France-Antilles, Antilla and Justice: which leanings?

France-Antilles Martinique covers general news, the municipalities and sport. Antilla, a weekly magazine, focuses on political and economic analysis. Justice, historically linked to the Martinique Communist Party, offers a campaigning view of social issues and identity.

Martinican Creole, the language of the airwaves

French remains the language of print, but Martinican Creole sets the rhythm of radio, debates and comedy. The legacy of Aimé Césaire, of the review Tropiques founded in 1941 and of the Créolité writers enriches the culture pages and columns.

From the Caribbean north to the tourist south

Newsrooms follow Fort-de-France and Le Lamentin, the administrative and economic heart, but also Le Robert and Le François on the Atlantic coast, Sainte-Anne and Le Diamant in the tourist south, and northern towns such as Le Lorrain.

Bondamanjak, ZayActu and People Bo Kay

Martinique's web has developed a voice of its own. Bondamanjak mixes opinion, satire and political scoops, ZayActu publishes briefs and crime news, and People Bo Kay covers celebrities and local culture. These sites thrive largely on Facebook and Instagram.

Where to find first-hand information?

Martinique has no local news agency. Newsrooms rely on Agence France-Presse, on statements from the prefecture, the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique created in 2015 and the regional health agency, and on their own reporters.

RCI, Martinique La 1ère and ViaATV

RCI Martinique dominates radio listening with its bulletins and debates. Martinique La 1ère, part of the France Télévisions public network, offers television, radio and a news website. ViaATV, which grew out of Antilles Télévision, and KMT complete the private television offer.

Staying connected from mainland France

A large Martinican diaspora lives in the Paris region. It keeps informed through franceinfo's La 1ère portal, Outremers360 and the titles gathered in the French overseas media, as well as by listening to RCI live online.

Living costs, bananas and the yole race

Economic coverage looks at the high cost of living, the subject of major protests in 2024, bananas, AOC Martinique rum and tourism. In sport, the Tour des yoles rondes sailing race, the Tour de Martinique cycle race and local football captivate readers.

Press freedom and the social climate

France's 1881 law applies and Arcom regulates radio and television. Social crises, from chlordecone to protests against the cost of living, put Martinican journalists under heavy pressure, caught between protesters' expectations and the demands of balanced reporting.

Comparing with the Antilles and French Guiana

To place Martinique in context, read the Guadeloupe press, with which it shares RCI and France-Antilles, and the French Guiana press, another French territory in the Americas. Nearby Saint Lucia, for its part, has an English-language press.

Article access and cross-checking

France-Antilles offers a digital subscription, while Martinique La 1ère, RCI and most websites remain free. A satirical Bondamanjak piece should be read as satire, and a rumour should be checked with the prefecture in Fort-de-France.

How to follow Martinique from a distance

1. Read France-Antilles Martinique for general news, then ZayActu for the day's briefs and crime stories.
2. Listen to the RCI Martinique bulletin live for the issues being debated on the island.
3. Watch Martinique La 1ère or ViaATV on replay for reports and televised debates.
4. Open Antilla at the weekend for more detailed political and economic analysis.
5. Follow the prefecture and the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique for official decisions and alerts.
6. Always tell satire, opinion and news apart before sharing a Martinican article.

Martinique media: free or by subscription

Reference points on Martinique's media

• Languages: French and Martinican Creole
• Most listened-to radio: RCI Martinique
• Public broadcaster: Martinique La 1ère
• Weeklies: Antilla, Justice
• Time zone: UTC-4, same as Guadeloupe
• Currency: euro
• Local institution: Territorial Collectivity of Martinique

Common traps with Martinican news

• Taking a satirical or polemical piece from an opinion site for news verified by an editorial team.
• Confusing a decision of the Territorial Collectivity with a state measure announced by the prefecture.
• Sharing a 2024 cost-of-living protest video as if it had just been filmed.
• Trusting a Facebook page that imitates the logo of RCI or Martinique La 1ère.
• Reading an article on chlordecone without checking the scientific sources and the date of the data cited.

Frequent questions about Martinique's press