This study further investigates the relationship between exposure to specific news outlets and changes in political knowledge in France. Previous studies have been conducted in the United States and have shown that citizens acquire their political knowledge more by reading newspapers than by watching television. However, unlike the United States, France has a strong public broadcasting system. This article aims to investigate whether the results would be the same in France. It provides new insights into political knowledge regarding the use of French news media. Drawing on the study of voters from the 2009 European Parliament elections, it examines the capacity of the news media to provide political information to the public and analyzes their relationship with political knowledge. The difference between public and commercial channels in the provision of political knowledge is taken into account. Although the literature is divided, findings indicate that both use of large-format newspapers and television news are positively related to political knowledge. Public service broadcasting leads to a higher level of political knowledge than commercial broadcasting. Keywords: Television use; use of newspapers; public service radio and television; political knowledge.IntroductionAccording to Jerit, Barabas and Bolsen (2006), “in a democracy, knowledge is power”. Indeed, political knowledge is a prerequisite for ensuring quality citizenship in a healthy democracy (De Vreese, Claes & Boomgaarden, 2006). Similarly, Berelson (1952) defines the ideal democratic citizen as “well informed about political affairs.” To be an active citizen you need to be informed and knowledgeable about politics (Le Hay et al., 2011). Indeed, does information lead to… medium of paper… culture? Communications", The European Journal of Communication 23: 527–543. Schuck, A. /2010. (perdieu.eu)Van Biezen, I., Mair, P., & Poguntke, T. (2012). Going, going,... gone? The decline of party affiliation in contemporary Europe of Political Research, 51(1), 24-56. Van Egmond, M.H., Sapir, E.V., Van Der Brug, W., Hobolt, S.B. and Franklin, M.N. (2010) EES 2009 Voter Study Advance Release Notes of AmsterdamVerba, S., Burns, N. and Schlozman, K.L. (1997) “Knowing and caring about politics: Gender and political engagement,” Journal of Politics 59: 1051–1072.Whiteley, P.F. (2011). over? The decline of party activism and party membership in the democratic world, 17(1), 21-44.