Crisis at French daily Le Monde as head editor resigns

France's prestigious daily Le Monde plunged further into crisisWednesday with the resignation of its managing editor who is faced with anewsroom rebellion over the paper's digital strategy.The resignation of Natalie Nougayrede comes after most of the paper's chief editorsstepped down last week, angry at top management's lack of communication as thepaper struggles to chart its way into the digital era.In a letter to announce her decision, Nougayrede said she no longer had theauthority to do her job with the "peace of mind and serenity" necessary.  "I cannot accept being undermined as head of the paper," she said. On Friday, hertwo deputies, also under accusation by a large part of the newsroom, stepped downas well.Le Monde, a centre-left daily founded in 1944, is France's newspaper of record andplayed a prominent role in the coverage of the revelations of former NSA contractorEdward Snowden.The editors' gripes centred on Nougayrede whom staff said was "very difficult totalk to", according to a source who spoke to AFP.Nougayrede, a veteran reporter for the paper, took up her post in March last year,succeeding the highly respected Erik Izraelewicz who died suddenly of a heart attack in his office in November 2012The crisis at the daily comes as the press in France -- as in many other Western countries -- suffers as the Internet eats into readership and advertising.With a circulation of over 330,000 last year, Le Monde slightly trails behind its rivalLe Figaro daily.Like many newspapers around the world, the daily has been expanding its digitaloffering in a bid to keep its head afloat, but the internal source said managementwas not competent in this area.