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French trees shout: Vive l’online!

11 comments on French trees shout: Vive l’online!

French trees shout: Vive l’online!

: Editors Weblog tells us (who don’t speak French) about a report from a French government think tank predicting the demise of daily, printed newspapers.

The reaction to this is typically French/EU: Spend some government money to swim against that tide.

Says John Burke at the weblog:

A report just released by a French government think tank that analyzes present situations and predicts the future of various public and private organizations paints a bleak picture for the future of the French printed press. The threat from the Internet and foreign news sources will, according to the think tank, transform all French news organizations into multimedia companies, of which only 2 or 3 will be left standing by 2011. Result: ” a majority of newspapers will disappear by 2011… if nothing is done”.

The report cites the need of French government aid to journals that undergo innovative reforms and that improve their public service. To further involve young readers, French government subsidies should be used to provide free temporary subscriptions for 18 year-olds. For the French media in general, the report calls for improved training for journalists, a radical reform of Agence France Presse, and a reform of news distribution.

Did they create a tax to feed the horses when the car came along?

Here and here I swatted at the notion of government helping journalism for then it can be used to influence journalism. Just ask PBS.

Beyond that, though, if the people want to get their news online why not give it to them there? If the French government wants to support something, wouldn’t it be better to support the future than the past? Wouldn’t it be better to underwrite development of online? Or are they afraid it will steal marketshare from the Minitel?

11 responses to “French trees shout: Vive l’online!”

  1. MorningSun Avatar
    MorningSun

    This is the French Government … the same one that banned to use of the word email because it was too English.

  2. fp Avatar
    fp

    Indeed why not socialize main stream media? And do it with a preservation trust fund that is administered in a way that the wierd libertarian clones of Ayn Rand can’t destroy when they come to power.

  3. KirkH Avatar
    KirkH

    In 2015 the French will scoff at our expensive free market potatoes, evil anti-ink news and continue to blame their freakishly high unemployment on the “sweatshop” laborers that will soon have a higher standard of living than even the French.

  4. Enigma America Avatar
    Enigma America

    Let me gather my thoughts. Ok. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Silly French! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!

  5. npc Avatar
    npc

    The French don’t live in the same world as the rest of us … or would prefer that to be the case.
    Just because it doesn’t make sense doesn’t mean the French won’t do it.

  6. HA Avatar
    HA

    Jeff,
    When you’re done mocking France (not that there is anything wrong with that) I assume you’ll call for the government to stop funding NPR and PBS?

  7. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Ha: Read on.

  8. NicolasJD Avatar
    NicolasJD

    This blog is quite often quoting AFP (Agence France Press), the only non-anglo international news agency (my employer, btw). I take the opportunity of this discussion on French media (and “cultural exception” as the French like to phrase it) to draw your attention on the new RSS feeds set up by AFP.
    http://www.afp.com/english/home/

  9. HA Avatar
    HA

    Jeff,
    You know, I forgot you had written that – which doesn’t say much for my short term memory. I stand corrected and extend my humble apologies.

  10. Claude Tarisse Avatar
    Claude Tarisse

    You know what readers don’t like about journalists? It is when they don’t know what they are talking about and have an opinion about it. And, more over, when they repeat the mistakes of another journalist. Check your sources. You haven’t read this report and you comment. This is a joke.
    This report, that I have started to read, is an analysis about the state of the media in France and its potential future. It does not say anywhere that old media are better than new media. And he questions if in a Democracy, in order to keep a variety of opinions, the state needs to help media. ALL MEDIA. Not one. ALL OF THEM.
    Is it a good idea? I do not know. But, in France there are newspapers that have views ranging from extreme left to extreme right. Some of them could not exist without some fiscal advantages given by the state.
    Result of that, France has four DAILY newspapers for kids with 200 000 subscribers between 5 and 15 years old. Not America.
    Is it a bad idea to question if a Democracy should guarantee to its citizens that they have access to the information needed to have an opinion, then to vote? And you know what, French people vote more than American people.
    Is it a bad idea to think that the market does or does not ensure free speech? Look at the recent story about the “Downing Street Report” on Iraq. Do you think that it is normal that American citizens had (have) no clue about it?
    I love Americans and America. It is why I live here. But, please do not talk down to others. Check your sources. And, know that state fiscal supports exist all over Europe. Not only France.
    AndÖ French people don’t like Jerry Lewis. French fries are not French. And French people like Americans. It is why USA is one of their first holiday destinations.
    Great job Jeff. Great blog.

  11. Claude Tarisse Avatar
    Claude Tarisse

    You know what readers don’t like about journalists? It is when they don’t know what they are talking about and have an opinion about it. And, more over, when they repeat the mistakes of another journalist. Check your sources. You haven’t read this report and you comment. This is a joke.
    This report, that I have started to read, is an analysis about the state of the media in France and its potential future. It does not say anywhere that old media are better than new media. And he questions if in a Democracy, in order to keep a variety of opinions, the state needs to help media. ALL MEDIA. Not one. ALL OF THEM.
    Is it a good idea? I do not know. But, in France there are newspapers that have views ranging from extreme left to extreme right. Some of them could not exist without some fiscal advantages given by the state.
    Result of that, France has four DAILY newspapers for kids with 200 000 subscribers between 5 and 15 years old. Not America.
    Is it a bad idea to question if a Democracy should guarantee to its citizens that they have access to the information needed to have an opinion, then to vote? And you know what, French people vote more than American people.
    Is it a bad idea to think that the market does or does not ensure free speech? Look at the recent story about the “Downing Street Report” on Iraq. Do you think that it is normal that American citizens had (have) no clue about it?
    I love Americans and America. It is why I live here. But, please do not talk down to others. Check your sources. And, know that state fiscal supports exist all over Europe. Not only France.
    AndÖ French people don’t like Jerry Lewis. French fries are not French. And French people like Americans. It is why USA is one of their first holiday destinations.
    Great job Jeff. Great blog.