In 1889, Jean-Baptiste Biard [fr] launched the bi-weekly Le Réveil (with a circulation of 4,500 copies), covering news from Cherbourg and Cotentin.

While Ouest-France was widely distributed in Brittany and Lower Normandy, the regional daily faced competition from La Presse in Cotentin.

According to academic Michel Mathien, this situation was due to the geographical isolation of Cotentin, which allowed Cherbourg to have its newspaper.

He insisted, against the opinion of his editorial staff, which included Paul Ingouf, René Moirand, and Guy Mabire, citing his ties to the constructor, Félix Amiot Shipyards, and the harm that such a revelation could do to the local economy.

[14][15] Against Giustiniani's wishes, Guy Mabire and André Lemesle informed their collaborators at the Daily Telegraph and Ouest-France, as well as the Agence centrale de presse [fr].

The latter published a report on the afternoon of December 26, which was then picked up by radio stations, television, and newspapers worldwide.

[16][17] In 1986, the newspaper revealed an arms trafficking case in the commercial port, sparking the Luchaire Affair, a national scandal.

Picked up by AFP, the story made national headlines, compromising the Fabius Government [fr], particularly Defense Minister Charles Hernu.

[13] In 2018, the company posted a turnover of 12.6 million euros, with half coming from single-copy sales and subscriptions.

[11] The editorial team is based in the heart of Cherbourg and operates two regional offices, one in Valognes and another, established in the 1970s, in Saint-Lô.