A recent study has shown that free French daily 20 Minutes is the best-read newspaper in France, Newspaper Innovation reported. The rise in circulation likely had to do with the French 2008 presidential election, the blog noted, adding that "readers turn to paid more when they are in search of election and other political news; free newspapers seem to be less important in that respect."

20 Minutes comes in first with 2.7 million readers, followed by the paid sports paper L'Equipe with 2.6 million and the free daily Metro, which counts 2.5 million readers.

All of France's free papers, including Plus and Direct Soir, have reported an increase in readership from 2007. A total of 4.4 million French people read a free daily on average in 2008.

The majority of French paid national papers saw an increase from 2007 as well, while smaller regional papers saw slight drops in readership, Newspaper Innovation reported.