In 1858 the order of the six leading Parisian papers in point of circulation was—(1) Siecle, (2) Presse, (3) Constitutionnel, (4) Patrie, (5) Debats, (6) Assemblee. The number of provincial papers exceeded five hundred. "Newspapers, nowadays," wrote a keenly observant publicist in that year, "are almanacs, bulletins, advertising mediums, rather than the guides and the centres of opinion." In 1866 the change had become more marked still. The monetary success of Girardin's many commercial speculations in this branch of commerce greatly increased the number of Parisian journals, whilst lowering the status and circulation of those of established rank. In 1872 the circulation of Le Petit Journal (founded 1863), the pioneer of the French halfpenny press, was 212,500, and it went on rapidly increasing. In 1874 an elabo rate return showed that in the 35 principal towns of France, comprising a population of 2,566,00o their respective journals had an aggregate weekly issue of 2,800,000 copies. In 1878 the total number of journals of all kinds published in France was 2,200. Of these 15o were political, strictly speaking, of which Paris published 49. Of Parisian journals other than political there were 1,141 (including 71 religious, 204 legal, 153 commercial, technological, 98 scientific and medical, 59 artistic). At that date Le Figaro had a circulation of about 70,000, Le Petit Journal (at a halfpenny) one of about 65o,000.
The law concerning the liberty of the press, of July 29, 1881, abolished suretyship for newspapers, decentralised their registra tion, and took away the former discretionary power, lodged in the home office, of interdicting the circulation in France of foreign journals. The home minister might still prohibit a single number of a newspaper; only the whole council of ministers, duly con vened, could prohibit the circulation of a foreign newspaper absolutely.
The newspapers of Paris, and similarly of France, practically doubled in number between 188o and 1900. In 188o there were about 120 Paris newspapers, in 1890 about 16o, and in 190o about 24o. The total number of newspapers, as distinguished from periodicals, published in France during 190o was in round num bers 2,400, of which about 2,16o appeared in 54o provincial towns.
The history of the French press during the last twenty years of the 19th century followed very closely that of the country itself, Boulangist and anti-Boulangist, Dreyfusist or anti-Dreyfusist, Republican or Nationalist ; finally it became either Moderate Republican or Radical Socialist, with a sprinkling of Nationalist organs and a small minority of Royalist and Bonapartist sheets.
The French papers, of whatever party, took an increased interest during this period in foreign matters and much improved their organisation for collecting news. L'Eclair gave less attention
to the discussion of political questions from the party point of view than to the collection of news, and was followed by the Echo de Paris (1884) and Le Matin, which also dates from 2884, and which by an arrangement with the London Times gave every day a translation of most of the telegrams published in that newspaper. The journal d'information, as these papers were called, took its place beside the journal properly so-called, more perhaps as a rival than as a complement. The natural result fol lowed, and the more old-type newspapers took steps to provide their readers with news as well as with leading articles, current and literary topics, society gossip, dramatic criticism and law reports. Nothing perhaps was so striking after 1890 as the demand of the French public for foreign and colonial news, or the readi ness of the papers to supply it by means of special representatives independent of the news agencies. An enlargement of the indi vidual newspapers followed, accompanied by a reduction of price.
In home matters the French press made greater progress still in the rapid and accurate collection of news, and in this respect the provincial press showed more enterprise and more ability than that of Paris. Its development was remarkable, for whereas in 188o the inhabitants of the departments had to await the arrival of the Parisian papers for their news, they now had the advantage of being supplied every morning with local newspapers inferior to none of the best organs of Paris. Among the best provincial papers may be mentioned La Gironde and La Petite Gironde of Bordeaux, La Depeche of Toulouse, Le Lyon Republicain, L'Echo du Nord of Lille, Le Journal de Rouen, all having a staff in Paris engaged in collecting news, reporting parliamentary proceedings and law cases, telegraphed or telephoned during the night and published early the next morning in their respective localities.
Being perfectly independent of purely Parisian opinion or even bias, the decentralisation of the French provincial press became complete ; it became also more independent politically than the Paris press. Several journals had and still have national reputa tions: the Depeche of Toulouse, with its 12 editions daily, the Progres of Lyons, Le Petit Marseillais, La Petite Gironde of Bor deaux. The small local press exercises an independent influence during elections.
The French Press has been little changed by the World War. During the War many newspapers temporarily disappeared, owing to the lack of staff, or of means, or shortage of paper. All papers were under a severe censorship and, more than ever, were the servants of the Government.