Why Traditional Newspapers Won’t Die?

On the cultural importance of the press

It is a bit too much said that printed press was born in France, but it was just this country which allowed newspaper to root in the European everyday routine consciousness. “La Gazette” — one of the very first weekly magazines was published for the first time in 1631. Just a moment later “The Daily Courant” appeared (1702) and then “Journal de Paris” (in 1777) — and that’s the way the daily newspapers begun. Today newspapers face a huge crisis. Are they going to disappear and what we’ll read every Sunday during our sweet coffee shop routine…?

Even though “La Gazette” was officially connected to the court and the king, the French Revolution was that which showed the power of the new medium. Freedom of speech is one of the most important values promoted together with the newspapers and with their priceless help. Then, overthrowing the state power was only a matter of time.

Let’s veil with silence what is not worth mentioning; the period of the monarchy and the censorship which came along with it. The Second World War was, in turn, strongly related to the problem of the collaboration. Some titles — like for example “Liberation” went underground. Other ones disappeared (like “Le Figaro”).
Postwar “Société Nationale des Entreprises de Presse” aims to systematise the newspapers market, introducing its control which depends (on many levels) on state authorities.

That’s the short story. Why do I write about it and why do I focus on France? Because this country is exactly the best example of the media social importance. French history shows well that media coverage equals power. In this case — power of opinion printed in the newspapers. Opinions — shared, loudly spoken and propagated — have the power of bringing people together. Without this power there would be no destruction of the Bastille prison, neither grassroots social organisation.

Today, French newspapers found themselves in a crisis for quite obvious reasons; traditional, let’s call them “analogue” media throughout the world surrender and little by little, they transfer power to the digital media.

There’s no single editorial office in the world, which would not shout out loud about the death of newspapers, about the constantly lowering advertising income and the extinguishing potency of newspapers (daily and weekly) editions.

France has expressed its objection to such condition. According to the ministerial proposals, printed newspapers will be subsidised with funds allocated to the culture. Most common reaction? Bullshit! The worst spent money ever! — Nothing more wrong. Actually, they are the best spent money. And the wisest. Because the traditional, printed newspapers are extremely needed in France. They help to keep the cultural education and the condition of the democratic society on the proper level. Newspapers are cultural goods. They are very important part of the French cultural heritage and the government knows it well.

To permit the press to fall would mean a death sentence over the great, strong tradition of newspapers and, on the other hand, taking out of the society one of the most valuable and important factors in the process of building cultural and national identity.

I hope that soon similar approach will appear also in other countries with great cultural heritage and influence, like Great Britain, USA or Germany; and I cannot point any single reason why these countries have to be ashamed of their printed newspapers, which are still global leaders of opinion. And I cannot imagine the world without titles such as “Le Monde”, “The Guardian”, “The Wall Street Journal” or “Financial Times”.

The Internet is not enough.