Friday, October 15, 2010

Free newspapers a hit in France


The : 'My free newspaper' project is a hit in France. Trust in the press also is up since the French cgovernment launched a project last year to offer French citizens between 18 and 24 a free newspaper once a week for a year. The program is funded half by the state, and half by the publishers involved. President Nicolaa Sarkozy says it's legitimate to consider the print media's economic situation.

A report on the launch of the project was provided by a BJ Alums blog post on January 24, 2009. Sarkozy at that time announced a ninefold rise in the state's support for newspaper deliveries and a doubling of its annual print advertising outlay amid a swelling industry crisis.

Sarkozy argued in a speech to publishers that the measures are needed because the global financial crisis has compounded woes for a sector already suffering from falling ad revenues and subscriptions.

In a speech to industry leaders, Sarkozy said it was legitimate for the state to consider the print media's economic situation.

"It is indeed its responsibility ... to make sure an independent, free and pluralistic press exists," he said.

See the latest on the project.

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