Last but not least: Newspaper misery en français
France is not a country of newspaper readers. Many cultured citizens consider reading the daily press a waste of time and would rather enjoy their croque monsieur. Now, 26 writers are hoping to save French quality journalism with an online platform.
France, the country with probably the most beautiful president's wife in the world. La grande nation, land of good table manners, culinary delicacies, cultivated language. But there is one thing France is certainly not: a country of newspaper readers. The seven national daily newspapers together sell just under one million copies per day - and that with a population of almost 65 million people. Why is that? On the one hand, the almost traditional French aversion to newspapers - even many cultivated citizens consider reading the daily press a waste of time and prefer to devote themselves to their croque monsieur. On the other hand, there are free newspapers such as 20 Minutes or Direct Matin, which, just like in Switzerland, are taking away the traditional titles.
Le Monde, still the country's largest and most important opinion-forming newspaper with a circulation of over 350,000 copies, must therefore continue to downsize. After 90 journalists lost their jobs three years ago, a further 130 jobs are now to be cut. The French press is at its end, writes cultural journalist Sylvain Bourmeau in the FAZ. Quality journalism seems to be in danger. A group of 26 former high-ranking writers have now taken up the cause of saving it. Their magic formula: the Internet. For a month now, they have been producing a daily online newspaper with quality standards at Mediapart.fr. It is to be financed mainly through subscriptions. For nine euros a month, you're in. Perhaps our neighboring country will find its way back to reading newspapers in the age of the iPhone.
Le Monde, still the country's largest and most important opinion-forming newspaper with a circulation of over 350,000 copies, must therefore continue to downsize. After 90 journalists lost their jobs three years ago, a further 130 jobs are now to be cut. The French press is at its end, writes cultural journalist Sylvain Bourmeau in the FAZ. Quality journalism seems to be in danger. A group of 26 former high-ranking writers have now taken up the cause of saving it. Their magic formula: the Internet. For a month now, they have been producing a daily online newspaper with quality standards at Mediapart.fr. It is to be financed mainly through subscriptions. For nine euros a month, you're in. Perhaps our neighboring country will find its way back to reading newspapers in the age of the iPhone.
