Le Nouvelliste. History of Haiti's Oldest Daily Newspaper

fot. Louis Boutin/Public Domain/Wikimedia, lenouvelliste.com


Europe owes the discovery of Haiti to Christopher Columbus. Were the Caribs and Arawaks, who then inhabited the island, pleased? Likely not, as by the late 16th century, the indigenous population was near zero. French pirates certainly rejoiced, using it as a haven, and in 1644, they founded the settlement of Port-de-Paix.

In 1697, under the Treaty of Rijswijk, part of the island became the French territory of Saint-Domingue. For the next hundred years, it was ravaged by economic, political, and cultural turmoil. Slave uprisings led to independence on January 1, 1804, and the country adopted the name Haiti. The price was a massive debt to France, repaid over the next century and more. Internal strife tore down the economy. Even the republic’s proclamation in 1859 couldn’t help. This chaos persisted until 1915.

Third Time’s the Charm

Amidst the disorder and racial tensions, on May 2, 1898, in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, Guillaume Chéraquite launched the French-language newspaper Le Matin (Morning). He entrusted printing to his friend, Henri Chauvet, a writer, printer, and parliament member.

This was Chéraquite`s third attempt to establish a newspaper. Though articles by the pseudonymous Ignotus were well-liked, a year later, on April 29, 1899, the office at Bonne Foi 19 closed (for the third time). This time, however, the main advertiser stepped in, liking the paper’s format and articles, and invested in the Morning.


Louis Boutin, a wine and potato importer, became the paper’s new owner but knew little about journalism or managing a newsroom. He hired the national poet Oswald Durand, who owned the paper Bigailles. The new editor and the old team introduced several significant changes, including renaming the newspaper. They set principles and objectives, improved style and form, and on Tuesday, August 1, 1899, readers received a new version of Le Matin, now titled Le Nouvelliste (The Novelist). Thus began the history of Haiti’s most popular newspaper, which continues today.

Objectivity, Honesty, and Truth Without Commentary

The first issue of the daily, based at the same address as Le Matin, had four pages and three columns. Beneath the main title was the subtitle: Journal Quotidien, Commercial, Agricole, Littéraire et d’Annonces (Daily Newspaper, Commerce, Agriculture, Literature, and Announcements).

Below, the names of the owner, editor-in-chief, and administrator, who went by the pseudonym Nilaup, were listed. It’s assumed he was a poet, as a poem of his appeared on the second page, reflecting on the paper now in readers’ hands.

Alongside current business news, the front page featured an editorial, setting out the new paper’s goals and promises:

• It would continue Le Matin’s legacy
• It promised objectivity, honesty, and truth
• National issues would always be paramount
• It would avoid commenting on the information presented, especially political topics
• It would provide business, stock market, and literary news

The second page included sections: Cablegrammes (Telegrams), or world news, Nouvelles Diverses (Various News), which included local cultural news, and Cours de Bourse (Stock Market Prices). The third page contained advertisements and an article on yellow fever and smallpox outbreaks in Cuba and Panama, with recommendations on preventing the epidemic. The fourth page was dedicated solely to ads.

Throughout the month, readers were encouraged to subscribe, with news presented in an engaging format. Fans of Le Matin saw the similarity and accepted the changes, and new readers showed their interest.

Entering the New Century in Dramatic Circumstances

On August 28, an editorial reshuffle was ordered, and starting September 1, 1899, the masthead listed Guillaume Chéraquite as director-co-owner and Henri Chauvet as editor-in-chief. Training was complete.

In following issues, Le Nouvelliste, as promised, reported on global and regional events, on the actions of government and church elites, without offering commentary. Information appeared as brief notes with headlines. Longer texts focused on economic policies or were reprints from other papers. Occasionally, Nilaup’s poems appeared (LN November 5, 1899), but the word Literature disappeared from the newspaper’s subtitle.

At the end of 1899, illustrations began to appear, mostly in advertisements for Parisian department stores. Le Nouvelliste also became the exclusive source of international news via the Compagnie Francaise, and the international section adopted this title. Like its first issues, these late-century issues emerged from Chauvet`s printing press, and readership grew.

Le Nouvelliste entered the new century with its familiar style and form. Two years later, Haiti’s major cities saw bloodshed due to elections and power struggles. The nation’s dire situation became critical, affecting all aspects of life, and dominated newspaper headlines.

Despite challenges, the first difficult decade of the new century brought several changes to the paper.

• In 1901, opinion articles and letters on state, education, and history appeared, forming a section called Tribune Publique.
• In December 1901, the title font was changed, columns increased to four, and a larger format was introduced.
• In August 1902, newspapers faced threats, as the country was torn by electoral and street fights.
• On September 8, 1902, a front-page notice read:

Le Nouvelliste returns to its original format. It will resume the larger format when peace and order are finally restored.

• In 1903, Tribune Publique moved ads to the fourth page.
• February 1904 introduced a sports column by Reporter, a Boite aux Lettres (Mailbox) for reader letters, and, in April, themed articles signed by Observator.
• On December 1, 1904, the newspaper published its first interview.
• On October 22, 1906, it began serializing novels under Feuilleton du Nouvelliste (Serial for Nouvelliste), beginning with Scenes from Haitian Life: Les Thazar.
• In spring 1907, a meteorological corner appeared, prepared by the Astronomical and Weather Society of Port-Au-Prince.

Significant changes came to the newspaper on January 1, 1909.

Pseudonyms, 50,000 Readers

After 11 years, Henri Chauvet, the editor-in-chief, became a co-owner. The font style from December 1901 returned, but the paper kept three columns. The subtitle was updated to: Quotidien fondé en 1898/Le plus ancien et le plus répandu des journaux d`Haïti/Monopole des télégrammes de l’étranger (Daily Newspaper Founded in 1898/The Oldest and Most Widely Circulated Newspaper in Haiti/Monopoly on Foreign Telegrams). Tribune Publique content was reduced, while national columns expanded. A new section, Au Palais National/Carnet d’un Notateur (In the National Palace/Observer’s Notebook), covering Parliament news, was added. Articles began to be signed with pseudonyms or initials, including contributions from correspondents like C. Ovide, who also wrote poetry.


The editorial title of the first issue in 1909 read: Le Nouvelliste S’agrandit, meme programme: pas de politique (Le Nouvelliste Expands, Same Program: No Politics), and in the January 5 issue, future plans were presented. Announcements included:

• an increase in format size and photographs (a specialist completed training in the USA)
• more columns and pages
• fixed prices

At this time, circulation reached 18,000 copies, but readership exceeded 50,000, as each paper was read by multiple people.

Le Nouvelliste with Photographs

The first promised changes arrived in February, with modest photographs in the ad section. By year’s end, the Tribune Libre (Free Tribune) section debuted, covering and explaining current national economic and social issues.

In January 1910, the second promise was fulfilled, with the paper expanding to four columns, and in May, the first photos appeared, marking the paper’s 13th anniversary. The editorial reaffirmed the commitment to avoid political topics, which were only reported as factual news, and expanded coverage of regional events: We will, at most, accept controversies of a social or literary nature, guided solely by the benefit or enjoyment of our readers.

The same issue featured the first (private) foreign correspondence with a photo—a report from Manila on the arrest of Japanese spies. A women’s fashion column was also introduced.

For the following years, the paper kept its promise, avoiding political debates and opinions, presenting only facts for readers to interpret. Haitian history was also honored with a special historical corner, Ephémérides Haitiennes (Haitian Annals), run by S. Rouziera.

Despite the newspaper’s growth and the addition of new topics, columns, and a more professional staff, not everything went smoothly. The country was mired in economic crisis. Corruption, uprisings, and social unrest persisted, with political strife and annual changes in the presidency. Henri Chauvet and Guillaume Chéraquite maintained their policy of reporting without commentary.

Paper Crisis: Two Pages Must Suffice

Since the start of the 20th century, much news came from the U.S., with American companies increasingly active in the Haitian market. Many Haitians traveled to the U.S. for work or studies, including Chauvet’s son, who studied journalism.

The country’s economic woes impacted the Haitian press. With shortages of everything, including paper, the press tightened its belt. According to the Digital Library of the Caribbean, from August 1911 to December 31, 1912, Le Nouvelliste was published as a two-page edition, with notices in nearly every issue about unpaid subscriptions.

The same library lacks issues until 1925, making it difficult to trace the paper’s evolution. However, we know it reported on the latest president-dictator, Jean Vilbrunie Guillaume Sam, and his order to execute 167 political prisoners (February 1915). This massacre sparked a nationwide revolt and a lynching of the president. The top office was taken by Rosalvo Bobo, supported by rebels and the Cacos organization.

Le Nouvelliste Under Censorship

Sam supported American interests, while Bobo opposed them, prompting the U.S. military to occupy Port-au-Prince on July 28, 1915, to protect its interests (as always). As Le Nouvelliste and other newspapers reported: The mission aims to restore order and peace and has no connection with any past or future political negotiations.

This mission lasted until August 1, 1934, during which Le Nouvelliste was placed under strict control and censorship. The owners and journalists resolved to endure this crisis.

In 1917, Henri Chauvet’s son, Ernest Georges, returned to Haiti. A certified journalist trained in the U.S., he joined his father’s newspaper, which Henri had by then fully acquired, becoming its sole owner. Two years later, on January 11, 1919, Ernest, at age 30, took over the family business (both the paper and the printing house), becoming editor-in-chief of Le Nouvelliste.

With experience in American journalism and familiar with that reality, young Chauvet managed the newspaper by balancing his father’s principles with his own ideas and vision. However, as the occupying forces grew increasingly brutal and imposed their rules, it was difficult to remain calm and avoid commenting on events.

No More Silence: Enter the Holy Monsters

His articles, filled with humor and sarcasm, were laced with biting remarks on current events, which didn’t please the Americans. They called him a scoundrel, blackmailer, and untrustworthy rogue. For his views and writings, he was imprisoned several times but maintained close ties with certain American officials.

Aware that he was walking a tightrope and could fall, in 1920, he created an executive board to secure the newspaper’s future. It included himself, writer Frédéric Duvigneaud, and poet Léon Laleau. The trio was dubbed the Holy Monsters of politics and journalism. Each was an intellectual, writer, and politician. Under their leadership, Le Nouvelliste became the pinnacle of Haitian cultural journalism, with all three later holding government positions.


In the 1920s, the newspaper not only shifted its focus but improved its appearance, retaining four pages and four columns. The main title restored its founding year information, now set to 1896.

The founding year change stemmed from the Haitian Revolutionary Calendar and the varying Independence Day dates set by whichever government was in power. In 1925, this calendar was two years behind the Gregorian calendar, a system that persisted through and long after the American occupation, as explained by Dr. Erwin Zavitz, an independent Haitian scholar, on his blog, Haiti and the Atlantic World.

Due to the foreign nationals in the country, the paper launched an English Section covering regulations imposed by the occupiers, including the new press law under a policy of nothing without us.

Martial Law and a Silent Protest by the Editorial Team

On May 2, 1927, the paper ran a modest headline with a note: Yesterday, May 1, was Labor Day. Le Nouvelliste celebrated its 31st anniversary! We observed it morally, deep in our hearts, for since 1922, our fraternal gatherings have become impossible. What was easy during the time of “semi-tyrants” is now unrealistic.

Lacking access to earlier issues, it can only be speculated that new president Louis Borno introduced more regulations at the behest of the occupiers, who attempted, unsuccessfully, to pass a new constitution.

In the years following, the editors continued to fulfill their duties conscientiously under pressure from the occupiers, as unrest and protests grew. In early December 1929, a protest began at the Service Technique de l’Agriculture et de l’Enseignement Professionnel against the American occupation. Military intervention failed, prompting U.S. Army Commander R. M. Cuttis to declare martial law, reported in Le Nouvelliste on December 5, 1929. His proclamation stated that incendiary articles or speeches detrimental to the United States Armed Forces in Haiti are forbidden, with authors to face military court.

Alongside this American notice was a directive from the Haitian Guard and police chief: NOTICE! TO ALL NEWSPAPERS

Due to the turmoil this morning, Wednesday, December 4, in Port-au-Prince, you are hereby informed that any publication of names of government officials remaining in office will be met with severe action.

Beneath these announcements, the editorial team posted their response:

The directors of Le Nouvelliste, respecting the above proclamation, within their legal rights, have decided to temporarily suspend publication, apologize to subscribers and readers, and trust they will understand.

The paper went silent, and martial law was imposed. However, global and U.S. Congressional pressure eventually relaxed the restrictions, and on December 16, Le Nouvelliste resumed publication, detailing the events of the 11-day silence. The editor-in-chief made no attempt to soften his language.

End of Occupation, End of Press Restrictions

The 1930s brought long-awaited freedom. In 1934, U.S. domination ended. Even before the October 1930 elections, Le Nouvelliste openly encouraged defense of the country and identity, criticizing the government (LN August 7 and 30, 1930). On the eve of the Haitian Congressional elections, each article radiated hope and optimism.

The new Parliament was highly nationalist and strongly opposed to American officials. Newspapers no longer followed the occupiers’ directives and wrote freely about the state of the country. To address the growing number of topics, in February 1933, Le Nouvelliste began periodically publishing a supplement.

After extensive parliamentary debates, the paper reported on August 7, 1933: Pas de Traité, mais un Accord (Not a Treaty but an Agreement), and Dernière Heure: Texte de l’Accord (Last Minute: Text of the Agreement). The paper expanded to six pages, printing all 27 points of the agreement to end the American occupation.

The next day, the topic dominated the front page, with debates, discussions, and open letters. Readers discussed the country’s future, and the newspaper introduced entertainment pages (jokes, stories), maintaining a six-page format.

The lead editorial on January 3, 1934, began: This year begins 1934. With unhidden pride, we call it the Year of Liberation, as it will mark the end of the American occupation.


On August 15, the last American contingent left Haiti. The next day, the front page featured telegrams from U.S. President Roosevelt to Haiti’s President Vincent and his reply, alongside a report on the raising of the Haitian flag in the capital.

From this day forward, the newspaper’s format shifted. Political articles (previously banned), editorials, and debates became more common, focusing on freedom. On June 27, the first-ever comic strip appeared in the paper. The permanent column, titled Le grain de sel quotidien (Daily Grain of Salt), occupied the lower right corner of the front page.

Adjusting to a New Reality

At this time, Ernest Georges Chauvet served as the company`s general director. Marceau Désinor was editor-in-chief, and Ernest Bonhomme was administrator. The paper had correspondents in eight major cities and one foreign correspondent, Marceau Dupont, based in Paris.

In January 1937, Ernest Chauvet became Haiti`s ambassador to London, and Frédéric Duvigneaud was appointed Secretary of State for the Interior. While officially still on the board, they passed editorial leadership to colleagues. Kléber Georges Jacob, an ethnologist and writer, became chief editor and administrator, while Max Duval took over as editor-in-chief.

The newspaper grew to eight pages, five columns, with clear thematic divisions and a new column, Le statut personnel de l`Haïtien à l`étranger (Personal Status of Haitians Abroad). While shorter pieces were brief and clear, longer texts, mainly reader letters, discussed issues in various cities or important events. Although the literary section did not return, the paper promoted the La Librairie Nouvelle (The New Bookstore) with books, magazines, and short descriptions.

Anniversary celebrations continued based on the May 1896 date, while the newspaper expanded its topics. Health, education, and home gardening articles appeared regularly, and winter brought joy to sports fans. Although sports news frequently appeared in a special column, starting in December, a full-page Chronique sportive (Sports Chronicle) was published.

National political issues remained modestly covered, mainly due to U.S. influence and President Vincent`s censorship of the press. In July 1938, the editorial team split into two sections. Editorial and secretariat duties went to Yvan Jeannot, while C. Beaubrun became administrator, and Max Duval remained editor-in-chief.

The First Comic and… War Breaks Out in Europe

On December 22, 1938, the second Christmas issue was published, more elaborate than the previous year`s, with 47 pages. It featured an expanded cultural section full of poetry, literary excerpts, drawings, columns, and full-page articles.

The following year brought less cheer, with global concerns centered on Germany, and by August, the front-page column La Situation Européenne (The European Situation) grew larger with each issue. September 1: War!

That same day, the fifth page featured the paper`s first comic strip, albeit in an ad for Palmolive soap, showing a six-panel illustrated scene.

In the coming months, the La Guerre Européenne (European War) column reported on the many fronts, with comments, news from various countries, and a Dernière Heure (Last Minute) note summarizing the latest updates. The paper had relied on radio and air dispatches for years, with an international section titled Dernieres Nouvelles Du Monde Entier, reçues ce matin par Câble, Radio et Correspondance Aérienne (Latest News from Around the World, Received This Morning by Cable, Radio, and Air Correspondence).

Though the war was far from Haiti, a sense of unease spread as refugees arrived. The newspaper returned to four pages, increasing columns to six. The Christmas issue on December 22 boasted 45 pages, filled with optimism and holiday spirit. It would be the same for 1939 and the next four years.

Change of Power: The Fathers Return to the Helm

Another year passed quietly in Haiti. Alongside news from Europe, there were updates on balls, exhibitions, theatrical performances, and new movie releases. Much space was dedicated to agriculture and the situation in various regions of the country, with ongoing focus on readers’ health and education, and reports on events like the 3rd Caribbean Congress (April 1941). The issues of Nazism and racism were frequently addressed, as these topics were relevant both at the highest levels and on the streets of Haiti.

In May 1941, before the elections, the U.S. government denied President Vincent another term, and Elie Lescot became the head of the Haitian government. As is customary, a new cabinet was appointed, and the old one returned home. Ernest Chauvet, after a journey through Europe, returned as director-owner in January 1943.


While Ernest returned, Pierre Chauvet, his son, took over editorial administration in July 1941, gathering Haiti’s finest journalists and writers, including Etienne Charlier, Louis Garoute, Max D. Sam, Jacques Roumain, Michel Roumain, Lucien Montas. When Marceau Désinor rejoined in January 1943, the paper took on a thoroughly political tone. So much so that, on February 25, 1943, the president ordered a suspension of Le Nouvelliste. After discussions and assurances, publication resumed on March 13.

Meanwhile, from March 1942, the newspaper’s appearance changed. The first photos began to accompany front-page articles, and in April, poetry returned to the pages. From May 1, the layout and style underwent noticeable changes.

• The front page featured summaries of key articles with photos, organized by topic and separated by varying title fonts.
• The main header shifted to the right (later adjusted as needed), with the day’s main headline on the left, later replaced by selected thoughts.
• The cultural section returned.
• Extensive articles covered national and international politics.
• Articles were signed with full names.

That same day, Pierre Chauvet outlined the paper’s new direction in an editorial titled Notre Ligne Politique (Our Political Line): a defense of democracy. Editor-in-chief Michel Roumain stated: Democracy is for us a young force, continuously evolving, that must ensure true racial equality, the freedom of men through material prosperity, and the propagation of culture within a rationally organized world, finally free of war and fascism.

Power Dislikes Criticism: Another Two Months of Silence

True to their word, the team published sharp critiques and authoritative commentary, and on October 12, they introduced political cartoon humor. Perhaps to temper the journalists’ zeal, that same month, Pierre Chauvet was appointed Chief of the Industrial Development Control Service. By December, editorial articles were written by the owner, Ernest Chauvet, who took over his son’s duties, and two months later, the paper was shut down.

The two-month silence (until March 14) allowed the editors to undertake a renovation of both old equipment and the paper’s image. Announced changes primarily affected the international section. A contract with All America Cable for news delivery was signed, and a new network of national and international correspondents was organized.

An entertainment section, French lessons in the new Le Nouvelliste for Or Me section, and a serialized memoir of Ernest Chauvet’s time in London and France were also announced. These new features began on March 15, with a comprehensive international section, Par Radio ce Matin (Radio This Morning), and a crossword puzzle.

In the following days, readers met a cartoon character in the first comic, Les Aventures d’Opiomar (Devenu Professeur) (The Adventures of Opiomar (Become a Professor)), and a memoir series by Ernest Chauvet, Ce que j’ai vu, entendu et lu (What I Saw, Heard, and Read).

On May 20, an expanded column for women, Le Jeudi de la Femme (Thursday for Women), covered beauty, health, and fashion.

Special correspondents from the U.S. contributed to the Special au Nouvelliste column, while news from All America Cable appeared in the Ici, Londres (Here, London) section. War news received significant attention on the front page in the La Guerre (War) column.

The End of the War, and a Revolt in Haiti

Ernest Chauvet oversaw Le Nouvelliste until 1947, building a solid and dynamic editorial team. New members included René Carré, Max Chalmers, Jules Blanchet, Gérard Philippeaux, and Fernand Leroy. Besides being writers and columnists, they were active figures. As a result, the newspaper took on a highly political tone, producing reliable, professional, and engaging articles and columns. Starting in April 1944, extensive reports on specific regions began appearing, often highlighting government policy failures in those areas.

The year 1945 brought the war’s end globally. Initially, reports hinted that the end was near, then that the end had come, and finally, what’s next after the end? Meanwhile, Haiti was simmering, and a revolt erupted in January 1946.

President Lescot’s government quickly revealed similarities to previous regimes, suppressing opponents, censoring the press, bestowing himself rights and privileges, and declaring himself commander of the armed forces. He squandered state funds, appointed officials freely, and ordered the imprisonment of journalists from the communist paper Le Ruche, which sparked a rebellion. Students, teachers, shopkeepers, and the military joined the uprising.


On January 11, the president resigned, and a junta took control. The main headline in Le Nouvelliste read: Pour dénouer la Crise, le Cabinet démissionne (To Resolve the Crisis, the Cabinet Resigns), and the editorial title proclaimed Enfin! (At Last!).

In the following months, the paper was filled with proclamations, promises, and declarations from the new rulers, who pledged free elections. Journalists debated and commented, careful not to antagonize the military.

On May 12, Haitians elected their National Assembly, on August 16, a new president, Dumarsais Estimé, and in November, they received a new constitution. From October 31, readers of Le Nouvelliste could learn about what was written in the American Times via a new column, New-York au Nouvelliste. Ernest Chauvet, who was in the U.S. for medical treatment, sent his American reflections to readers in a column titled Lettre de notre Directeur (Letter from Our Director). In 1948, as he became an assistant and advisor at the UN, he entrusted editorial articles to René Carré.

For the next several years, the newspaper supported the new president, who was friendly toward it, although the junta still oversaw everything.

More Photos for the 55th Anniversary

In 1950, the paper introduced several changes. In January, more photos appeared on both the front page and in the middle sections. In May, it celebrated its 55th anniversary (still using the 1896 date), and from June 21, Marceau Désinor resumed as editor-in-chief, having acted as director in Chauvet’s absence for a year. In November, Max Chauvet became the chief administrator.

The cultural section introduced a column, Choses et gens vus (Seen Things and People), where Jacques Large wrote about music and literature. In November, the paper once again participated in election campaigning. On December 6, Haiti had a new president, and by the end of the month, sports enthusiasts had a full section dedicated to various sports. Notre page sportive (Our Sports Page) included articles and numerous photos.

With its man at the UN—none other than the owner—the paper added a section in 1951 titled La Voix d’Haiti (The Voice of Haiti), reporting on how Haiti was represented and promoted globally. In September 1952, it returned to a six-page format, and in November, more changes followed.

Lucien Montas took over as editor-in-chief, described as a brilliant leader, experienced, known for his sense of a job well done and legendary discretion. From 1953, Leon Laleau and Max Chauvet assumed directorial roles.

The following years passed smoothly for the paper. The government, somewhat more efficient and honest than previous ones, was far from ideal, prompting nationwide discussions on governmental performance. New editors-in-chief were welcomed, and a new piece of equipment, the teletype, expanded global connectivity. The paper introduced a column, Nouvelles etrangeres reçues par “Teletype” de A. F. P. exclusivite Le Nouvelliste (Foreign News Received by Teletype from AFP Exclusively for Le Nouvelliste).

Duvalier’s Dictatorship: Worse than Occupation, Death for Criticism

Another crisis erupted in May 1956 when the president attempted to extend his term. His speech on May 22 sparked a storm of opposition and strikes. Martial law didn’t help, and on December 12, the president resigned and fled to Jamaica. In September 1957, François Duvalier became president. His rule lasted until 1971, showing Haiti the true meaning of dictatorship.

Meanwhile, Max Chauvet was left to manage the newsroom alone as director and administrator, and from 1958, as the owner. Ernest Georges Chauvet passed away in New York at the age of 69.

Max Chauvet ran Le Nouvelliste for the next 10 years, until 1968. These were challenging years, as dictator Duvalier imposed strict censorship. Writing anything about domestic politics was prohibited, let alone any criticism of the government, which could result in death. Comments and debates vanished, except on international topics, as the international, cultural, and automotive sections flourished. The journalists, however, still managed to convey hints and innuendos, which readers quickly picked up on.

In the early 1960s, Haitians gained access to television. Through Le Nouvelliste, they could learn the schedule of programs offered by Tele-Haiti Canal 5 and the repertory of nine cinemas in the capital.

The paper maintained contact with readers and often published their Lettre Ouverte (Open Letters), primarily addressed to the president. These letters never touched on politics, focusing instead on social and health issues. Occasionally, articles—especially their titles—raised the censors` blood pressure. On June 2, 1962, the main article was titled La Liberté de la Presse (Freedom of the Press). Although author A.G.P. wrote about two press congresses in Paris and Ceylon, the title had its impact.


On August 7, 1968, Max Chauvet passed away. His wife, Jeanine Théard Chauvet, inherited the newspaper, and Lucien Montas took over as editor-in-chief for nearly 25 years. If the newspaper had faced challenges before, it now faced serious problems. Freedom of the press was gone, boldness had ended, and opposition had been silenced, as the journalists recalled those times.

From Dictatorship to Kleptocracy

In the 1960s, Le Nouvelliste remained under heavy censorship. Journalists were forbidden from reporting on domestic events. Instead, they focused on international affairs: elections in the U.S. and France, the space race between the U.S. and Russia, the Vietnam War, and issues in Eastern Europe. Local reports focused on sports and theater reviews, while Dr. Pradel Pompilus educated readers in Haitian Creole through the column Notre Chronique de Langage (Our Language Chronicle). Every May, there was joy over surviving another year, with hopes for better times ahead. Religious topics also began to receive extensive coverage, as Haiti was a Christian country, yet the president supported and practiced voodoo, and this direction found its place in the paper.

While the newspaper officially supported the president, Lucien Montas kept the flame of great aspirations alive. Texts were subtly crafted: misplaced adjectives here, punctuation marks there, and detecting falsehoods, all thanks to the team of journalists, including Aubelin Jolicoeur, Laurore Saint-Just, Gerson Alexis, Gérard Jolibois, and Antoine L. Jean.

When dictator “Papa Doc” Duvalier died in 1971, there was hope for improvement. Unfortunately, his son, the 19-year-old Jean-Claude “Baby Doc,” took over. Some of the most severe decrees were lifted, but the country’s economic and political situation deteriorated yearly. The young playboy indulged himself while practicing kleptocracy until 1986.

In 1973, Max Chauvet`s son, also named Max, returned to Haiti after studying abroad and joined the family business. Young and inexperienced, he recalled: I set myself in apprentice mode to learn the craft from Mr. Montas....

In the following years, Aubelin Jolicoeur conducted interviews, Gerard Maisonneuve ran the column Informations Religieuses (Religious Information), and Carlo A. Desinor wrote essays on life, nature, truth, and lies. Books, films, theater performances, but never the government and its politics—unless to praise the president. Section headers changed, columns and pages were added, holiday issues were packed with greetings, entertainment, and big advertisements, yet censorship controlled the content. Real change arrived in the 1980s, both in the newsroom and the country.

Wisdom and Youth Arrive with a Renewed Le Nouvelliste

Jeanine Théard Chauvet passed the family business to her son, Max E. Chauvet, who proved to be an excellent manager, director, and administrator. Together with Lucien Montas, they formed a duo referred to as wisdom and youth, and in 1983, they transformed the newspaper from the ground up:

• adopted a tabloid format
• changed editorial policy
• introduced pagination
• divided content into national, economic, cultural, and several smaller sections
• began adding color
• computerized the newsroom

Step by step, journalists began addressing domestic political issues. Pope John Paul II’s visit, during which he condemned the regime, signaled the beginning of the end of Duvalier’s dictatorship. Joy erupted in February 1986 when the army intervened again, forcing “Baby Doc” to resign and go into exile.

Domestic affairs, commentary, discussions, and debates returned to the press, including Le Nouvelliste. One of the leading journalists of that time was Aubelin Jolicoeur, the longest-serving and most experienced member of the paper, always hopeful for a better tomorrow. He had joined the newspaper after World War II and ran the column Choses et gens (People and Things), preserving the cultural capital, society, and traditions of his nation. A specialist in Haitian art, he was asked to serve as Minister of Information after the 1987 ratification of the new constitution and the formation of a new government. He remained loyal to the paper until his death on February 14, 2005.

The end of the dictatorship did not herald prosperity. Power periodically fell to the military, and in 1991, they seized control permanently. Another regime began, and with it, a mass exodus of weary Haitians, primarily to the U.S. For four years, the military ruled brutally, relying on drug trafficking, leading to U.N. sanctions on Haiti. When, in mid-September 1994, the U.S. prepared for another intervention, the authorities stepped down. General elections were held in June 1995.

A Step Toward Modernization

In the newsroom, longtime editor-in-chief Lucien Montas passed away on January 2, 1993, from a heart attack. Chauvet appointed the energetic and ambitious journalist Carl A. Désinor Jr., who was also a doctor and writer, as the new editor-in-chief.

Despite the country’s troubles, Chauvet took care of his newspaper and his team. He modernized the technical facilities, launched a professional advertising agency under the careful supervision of Yolette Jacques, introduced profitability imperatives, and implemented further visual changes to the newspaper. The paper received a new headquarters on rue du Centre, and “young, passionate, and ambitious” journalists flocked to the newsroom.


In 1996, the first edition of the book fair Livres en Folie (Books in Madness) was organized by Le Nouvelliste. The idea and organization were spearheaded by Max E. Chauvet, and this annual book fair continues to this day.

The younger readers were also considered. In 1998, a magazine for children, P’tit Nouvelliste, was launched, followed in subsequent years by the music magazine Ticket Magazine and the sports magazine Tout Terrain.

Under the leadership of the Chauvet-Désinor duo, Le Nouvelliste became a modern newspaper, open to the world and its readers. In 1998, the paper celebrated its 100th anniversary according to the Gregorian calendar. In a country of perpetual conspiracy and triumphant defeatism, reaching a century as a private institution is a true challenge, said Christophe Philippe Charles, a newspaper contributor. Aubelin Jolicoeur added, If I don’t see progress in my country, at least I see the progress of my alma mater, Le Nouvelliste.

Marketing, the Internet, and Another Wave of Misfortune

In September 2000, Carl A. Désinor passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49. Pierre Manigat Jr. succeeded him as editor-in-chief. One of his first moves was to refresh and rejuvenate the editorial team. The new blood brought a fresh perspective, new writing styles, and modern journalism. Among this new team were Serge Philippe Pierre, Guyler C. Delva, Claude Gilles, Samuel Baucicaut, and Hugo Merveille.

Two years later, a new Creation and Interactivity Department was established, headed by Frantz Duval, alongside a very professional Marketing Department led by another Chauvet, Jean Max.

The same year saw the launch of the first edition of the music fair Music en Madness, supported by Le Nouvelliste’s child publication, Ticket Magazine. Four years later, in 2006, Le Nouvelliste went online with the launch of its website www.lenouvelliste.com, opening Haiti to the world in real-time and on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the country. From 2001 to 2004, due to fraudulent elections, there were continuous riots and coups. International assistance was needed, but human rights violations and democratic shortcomings delayed any help. The situation was critical. To add to the misery, in September 2004, Hurricane “Jeanne” struck, killing over 1,500 people. It wasn’t until 2006 that a second round of elections was held. But before the country could recover, on January 12, 2010, an earthquake almost completely destroyed the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Among the many damaged buildings was Le Nouvelliste’s headquarters. For the next two years, journalists operated out of cramped quarters on the city’s outskirts while rebuilding took place. For a while, the paper was not published, as the printing press was also damaged.

Max E. Chauvet used the rebuilding period to improve technical facilities, investing in a new printing press. The old one printed 24 pages, including eight in color; the new press could print 32 pages, with 16 in color.

With the newspaper’s renewed appearance came changes in the editorial team. In February, Frantz Duval replaced Pierre Manigat Jr., and unfortunately, staffing had to be reduced—not only because of the earthquake but also because, like in many places globally, print newspapers struggled against digital competition.

Despite the online presence, Le Nouvelliste’s presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and its dedicated app, print continued to hold its own.

A Lost Decade

By August 2011, the paper had regained 80% of its subscribers, and on September 9, the first issue of the tourism magazine Magic Haiti was released, distributed at airports, hotels, embassies, and NGOs. It had a print run of 10,000 copies and was free. A year later, on October 11, 2012, another supplement, the weekly Lakay, was launched, featuring daily articles in English.

The topic of the earthquake and its aftermath dominated the front pages, but political issues also preoccupied journalists. Uprisings and protests against government decisions (LN, May 31, 2010), the return of “Baby Doc” (LN, January 20, 2011), a proposed new constitution (LN, June 20, 2012), and, three years after the earthquake, an assessment of what had or hadn’t been done (LN, January 11, 2013). There were positive developments as well. The new president, Michel Martelly, initiated several aid projects for victims, implemented housing, education programs, and restored public spaces. He emphasized foreign investment and tourism. Between 2012 and 2016, tourism saw an increase, but then came Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.

We are fragile. Knowing our country, we know that any rain could become a disaster, wrote the journalists. And then came another round of elections, of which they said, these elections should be feared more than the hurricane, because...If we fail to handle these elections, if we continue with endless protests, if we don’t choose responsible officials with legitimate mandates, no disaster recovery efforts will be implemented. We will return to false emergency plans, to five years of delays and turmoil, with weak and inefficient institutions (LN, October 4, 2016).

Subsequent years in the country brought further setbacks, more elections, and more protests. Haiti: A Lost Decade, read the headline in Le Nouvelliste on January 13, 2020. In March, COVID-19 reached Haiti, and on the night of July 6–7, 2021, the country’s president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated. On August 14, yet another earthquake struck, compounded by gang wars across the country.

Print Bows Out. 125th Anniversary Only Online

Le Nouvelliste found itself in a dire financial situation, forcing Max E. Chauvet to make a tough decision for the newspaper. On October 26, 2022, an announcement was made:

Le Nouvelliste informs its subscribers, readers, and sponsors that this issue is its last printed edition until further notice. The management of “Le Nouvelliste” bears this painful responsibility due to the inability to acquire fuel, distribute the paper, and the exhaustion of the last supply of paper. The blockage of ports prevents the newspaper from obtaining paper. Therefore, Le Nouvelliste will continue to publish the daily paper in digital format.


This, however, was not the end of its troubles. Fearing for their safety after an attempt on the life of its news editor Roberson Alphonse, the editorial team moved to Pétion-Ville, south of Port-au-Prince.

It was there, on May 1, 2023, that they held a modest celebration. Le Nouvelliste had survived to mark its 125th anniversary. It was not a joyful celebration, as a gang war had been raging on the streets of the capital since February 29. Although the editorial team had relocated, the printing press, library, and offices with larger equipment remained in the city center. On the night of April 17-18, 2024, unidentified assailants broke into Le Nouvelliste`s premises, looting and vandalizing everything, with the printing machines destroyed. Eighty people were left without jobs, readers without a newspaper, and the newspaper without revenue. Only the digital version remained. The 126th anniversary came with a bitter taste.

But the journalists, led by Chauvet, refuse to give up.

Le Nouvelliste must rise again, and all of Haiti’s press must regain its strength. New challenges await us as we strive to overcome obstacles and avoid pitfalls. Without nostalgia for a past that was never truly good and without constant worry about a future that doesn’t look promising, Le Nouvelliste, from one generation of journalists to the next, intends to carry on its work.

For 126 years, Le Nouvelliste has adapted to the country`s technology and challenges, and we will continue our journey. Stay with us. Frantz Duval, Le Nouvelliste, May 1, 2024

Timeline of Le Nouvelliste

• 1898, May 2 - First issue of the newspaper Le Matin is published.
• 1899, August 1 - The newspaper is renamed Le Nouvelliste.
• 1899, December - First illustrations appear.
• 1901, December - First layout changes to the newspaper.
• 1904, February - Sports column and mailbox for reader interaction are introduced.
• 1904, December 1 - First interview published in the newspaper.
• 1906, October 22 - First serialized novel appears.
• 1909, January 1 - Henri Chauvet becomes the new co-owner of the paper.
• 1910, May - First photos and international correspondence appear.
• 1915, July - U.S. invasion of Haiti; Le Nouvelliste is censored.
• 1919 - Newspaper becomes property of the Chauvet family.
• 1920 - An executive council is appointed.
• 1929, December 5-11 - State of emergency; Le Nouvelliste ceases publication.
• 1933, February - First supplementary issue.
• 1934, June 27 - First political cartoons appear.
• 1937, December - First holiday issue is published.
• 1939, September 1 - First comic strip appears.
• 1942, March - Political humor introduced.
• 1943, February 25-March 13 - President halts publication of the paper.
• 1943, February - Agreement signed with All America Cable for news delivery.
• 1943, March 15 - First crossword puzzle and comic strip.
• 1950 - Light facelift of the newspaper.
• 1954 - Editorial office receives a teleprinter.
• 1968, August - Lucien Montas leads the newsroom for nearly 25 years.
• 1983, May - Le Nouvelliste switches to tabloid format and introduces color.
• 1993 - An advertising agency is established in the newsroom.
• 1994 - Newspaper moves to new headquarters.
• 1998 - Launch of a children’s magazine, “P’tit Nouvelliste”.
• 1998, May - Centennial of Le Nouvelliste.
• 2002 - First issue of “Ticket Magazine” is published, later incorporated into the daily in 2010.
• 2002 - Creation and Interactivity Department established.
• 2006 - Le Nouvelliste goes online.
• 2010, January 12 - Earthquake destroys the editorial building and printing press. The newspaper is not published until February.
• 2011, September 9 - Launch of the free tourism magazine “Magic Haiti”.
• 2012, October 11 - First issue of the weekly “Lakay” in English.
• 2022, October - Assassination attempt on Le Nouvelliste journalist Roberson Alphonse.
• 2022, October 26 - Le Nouvelliste suspends print and relocates the editorial office to the outskirts of the city.
• 2024, April 17 - Offices, library, and printing press of Le Nouvelliste are vandalized.
• 2024, April 18 - Le Nouvelliste goes fully digital.

Sources:

• https://lenouvelliste.com/
• https://www.dloc.com/UF00000081/00001
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Nouvelliste_(Haiti)
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