ABSTRACT
French newspaper coverage of the 2004 election emphasized the idea of America as a geographically, socially, economically and politically divided society. This chapter begins by introducing the different newspapers that will serve as sources. They are: Le Monde, Le Figaro, and Liberation. The chapter presents the major and minor rhetorical motifs in the newspaper coverage of the election. It considers the three newspapers in greater depth as well as some of the key differences between them. The three news sources differ, therefore, in terms of their political positions, style and relative autonomy from external control. The clearest and most direct demonstration of bias appeared in the weekend edition of Le Monde immediately prior to the American election. Le Figaro targets an intellectual audience with conservative political leanings. Its stories contain nuances and complications that prevent its political leanings from approaching the glib propaganda that saturates popular American newspapers like USA Today.
