Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper (founded 1969, relaunched 1992) producing cartoons, political commentary, and investigative journalism on religion, politics, and culture. The Paris-based publication serves French-speaking readers and international press-freedom supporters via digital subscriptions, print editions, podcasts, and merchandise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Charlie Hebdo does
Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper originally founded in 1969 and relaunched in July 1992 under the editorial leadership that included Charb, Riss, Luz, Cabu, and Philippe Val. The Paris-based publication, operating with an estimated 11–50 staff, produces cartoons, caricatures, polemics, and investigative journalism covering French and international politics, society, religion, ecology, economics, culture, and sciences. The product surface is anchored by a single weekly newspaper (with issue #1,769 published by June 2026) and supplemented by podcasts ("Les Causeries de Charlie Hebdo," "Charlie se la raconte"), a daily/weekly newsletter ("Qu'a dit Charlie?"), election-cycle editorial series, and an online boutique selling merchandise and special editions.
Charlie Hebdo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Charlie Hebdo
- Legal name
- Charlie Hebdo
- Website
- https://charliehebdo.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper (founded 1969, relaunched 1992) producing cartoons, political commentary, and investigative journalism on religion, politics, and culture. The Paris-based publication serves French-speaking readers and international press-freedom supporters via digital subscriptions, print editions, podcasts, and merchandise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Charlie Hebdo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satirical Newspaper and Digital Media
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing (MPAJAAAM)
Keywords
Where Charlie Hebdo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Charlie Hebdo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Digital Subscriptions: Monthly digital subscription providing access to the online journal, all articles, and digital cartoons. Priced at 4.90 euros/month with commitment-free cancellation available.
- Print Subscriptions: Physical newspaper subscriptions for the weekly print edition
- Merchandise and Boutique: Sale of books, specialty editions, tote bags, notebooks, and other branded merchandise through their online boutique
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Digital 100% subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Charlie Hebdo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Charlie Hebdo publishes a weekly satirical newspaper in print and digital formats, featuring cartoons, caricatures, political commentary, and investigative journalism on politics, society, religion, international affairs, ecology, economics, culture, and sciences. The publication sells digital subscriptions (4.90 EUR/month) and print subscriptions directly to consumers, and operates a merchandise boutique selling branded books, tote bags, notebooks, and specialty editions. It also produces podcast series and daily newsletters as supplementary content offerings.
Product overview
Charlie Hebdo is a satirical weekly French newspaper and digital media outlet that combines investigative journalism, political commentary, and cartoon/illustration content. The publication operates as a single unified product (the weekly newspaper/magazine) available both in print and digitally, supplemented by multiple content verticals including podcasts (Les Causeries and Charlie se la raconte), editorial series (Les Champions de la droite, Municipales 2026), and merchandise. The core revenue model combines digital subscriptions (4.90 EUR/month) with print sales and merchandise. The publication is known for its secularism, satirical commentary on politics and religion, and covers topics spanning politics, society, ecology, religion, international affairs, science, culture, and economy through articles, drawings, and audio content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Charlie Hebdo Weekly Newspaper Core satirical weekly newspaper publication available in both print and digital formats, featuring political commentary, caricatures, and investigative journalism on politics, society, religion, culture, and international affairs. Targeted at adult readers of French-language satirical journalism.
- Digital Subscription (Digital 100%)
Quantifiable outcome
- Publication survived terrorist attack that killed 12 staff members and continued publishing weekly since 1992
Companies that use Charlie Hebdo
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Charlie Hebdo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Charlie Hebdo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Charlie Hebdo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Onion: American satirical news outlet that similarly blends parody journalism with cultural commentary. Comparable in product format (online + print at various points) and audience expectation of irreverent political satire, though US-focused.
- Le Canard Enchaîné: France's other flagship satirical weekly newspaper. Closest direct competitor, also operating on a subscription-funded model without advertising, covering politics and power through satire and investigative reporting.
- Private Eye: UK-based fortnightly satirical magazine covering politics, royals, and current affairs. Closest English-language analogue in format (magazine + cartoons + investigative satire), with a similarly loyal subscriber base.
Emerging players
- Siné Mensuel: French satirical monthly magazine founded by cartoonist Siné after his departure from Charlie Hebdo. Directly comparable satirical editorial lineage and format, but smaller scale and monthly cadence versus Charlie Hebdo's weekly.
Broad incumbents
- Le Point: Major French weekly news magazine with paid digital subscriptions and politics/society coverage. Comparable in format (weekly magazine), subscription model, and French political coverage breadth.
- Le Monde: Major French daily newspaper with a digital subscription model and editorial independence ethos. Covers the same political and societal topics as Charlie Hebdo but through straight journalism rather than satire, and at much larger scale.
- Le Figaro: Largest French daily newspaper by circulation, with a paid digital subscription offering. Comparable in French general-news subscription economics, though ideologically distinct from Charlie Hebdo's satirically anti-establishment stance.
- Courrier International: French weekly that translates and curates international press. Comparable subscription-funded French magazine model and overlaps with Charlie Hebdo's international coverage, but without satirical editorial voice.
- Libération: Left-leaning French national daily with subscription model and irreverent editorial tone. Overlaps with Charlie Hebdo's French political coverage and reader demographics, but operates at broader scale and as straight news.
- L'Express: Established French weekly news magazine with subscription model and politics/current-affairs focus. Comparable cadence and readership overlap with Charlie Hebdo, though covering news through analytical rather than satirical framing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Charlie Hebdo social profiles
Digital presenceCharlie Hebdo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Charlie Hebdo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Charlie Hebdo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Charlie Hebdo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Charlie Hebdo
What does Charlie Hebdo do?
Charlie Hebdo publishes a weekly satirical newspaper in print and digital formats, featuring cartoons, caricatures, political commentary, and investigative journalism on politics, society, religion, international affairs, ecology, economics, culture, and sciences. The publication sells digital subscriptions (4.90 EUR/month) and print subscriptions directly to consumers, and operates a merchandise boutique selling branded books, tote bags, notebooks, and specialty editions. It also produces podcast series and daily newsletters as supplementary content offerings.
Is Charlie Hebdo a public or private company?
Charlie Hebdo is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Charlie Hebdo founded?
Charlie Hebdo was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Charlie Hebdo based?
Charlie Hebdo is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Charlie Hebdo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Digital Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are print Subscriptions and merchandise and Boutique.
Who are Charlie Hebdo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Onion, Le Canard Enchaîné and Private Eye. Siné Mensuel is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Le Point, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Courrier International, Libération and L'Express.
Does Charlie Hebdo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Charlie Hebdo.
What industry is Charlie Hebdo in?
Charlie Hebdo's product category is Satirical Newspaper and Digital Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAO, News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines, with a secondary code of MPAJAAAM, Politics, Current Affairs & Social Commentary Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.