Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-22
PARIS JOURNALISM.
How Papers Are Edited in the French
Capital.

How Papers Are Edited in the French
Capital.
Although impersOnal journalism has been
tried in Paris since the fall Of the Empire,
it does not seem to be gaining ground, or
to have produced the results expected by
the proprietOrs who wished to initiate the
English system. Some of those journals
which have adopted it have fallen out Of
existence entirely; others have ceased to be
as prominent as they were before. In no
instance has the change brought increased
prosperity or greater public influence. For
this reason the journals continue the habit
of giving their leading articles over
the signature of the writer. The
chief editorial or premier Paris is
usually given over the name, or the well
known pseudonym, of a popular political
writer, who more frequently uses the edi-
torial "We," to indicate that he speaks for
the journal as we'll as for himself, than the
personal pronoun 81" The merits and de-
merits of this system have been so often
discussed that scarcely any new facts can
be brought to bear upon the argument; but
it may be safely and pertinently remarked
that this is matter which mainly depends
upon the tastes and habits Of people. 1t
is one Of those questions about which
GREAT deal can be said upon both sides, and
It is certainly one which will be apt to be
Judged enormously if judged from an
English or American point of view. 1t is
pretty certain that impersonal journalism is
the better for England and the United
States. In France such is not the case at
present. The first thought of French news
Il 20 Lob for tho n
some popular writer; almost the last is to
see what there is in the way of telegraphic
news. In fact, news takes rank below the
theatrical, or at least below the reports of
prenljereS representations. 1t may be re-
garded as extremely doubtful, therefore,
whether even the Journal des Debats would
gain in Importance by sUppressing the names
of such writers as John LIemOine and G..
deMOlinari, who have large and regular
clientele of readers, who would follow them
to any other paper. Most Of the Paris
Journals are read for the articles Of certain
writers. LIE Soir, to give an example, was
exceedingly popular so long as the name
of Edmond About was signed to
its prenaiers- PdriS-but it has been scarcely
heard of since that clever writer took his
pen to the XIXth Steele. AboUt's connec-
ton with this new journal guaranteed its
new success at the start, and Francisque
Sarcey brought to it his own troop of read
ers to swell the list. This journal is 8
marked success, therefore, although the
clever, brilliant and logical articles Ofthese
two writers are placed beside silly, sOpho.
moric appreciations of political events
signed Schuerb, or Smith, or Brown, or
Robinson. 1t matters very little what there
is in the journal if there are articles from
About and Sarcey, for a vast majority read
them and then throw the paper aside, feel
ing they have got the worth of their three
sous. Edmond Tarbe and Jules Richard,
in the GduIOis; Saint Ernest, Jouvin, Albert
Wolff and others in the Figaro
National; II. Taine, In the Temps; Louis
VeuillOt, In the URiUerS, or Paul de Cas-
sagnac I'M the Pays, are in reality the life and
soul of those journals. The Patrie has long
ceased to sign its articles, except in lump
by the SecretGire de Ia reduction or the d.
rectelT-gerGnt in order to conform to the
law, and it does not appear to have been
greatly benefited by the change. Yet this
journal and L'Ordre show some OF the
ablest and most spirited pOlemic writings
of any journals in France. A city of the
size of Paris which supports about fifty
daily journals (the number is constantly
Changing) could hardly fail to profit by
reduction to at least One-third, but this could
only be done by the concentration of popu-
lar writers in few journals, and none seem
to have a sufficient capital to make the
attempts. Of course it would be impOssi-
BILE to do so unless some five or six
large journals were agreed, for the number
of popular writers is so great that some of
them must be left to the journals which are
started on less than $1,000. The first capi-
tai of the Figaro was only 800, and num-
bers of the minor sheets have had a cash
capital O. .Sss than $500. The caution
money is generally advanced by some bank
er or leading man who has the journal for
his private use, and this is the more easily
since the recent trials have shown
that Jury can scarcely be found to con-
Vicit jOurn al for political discussion.
The private suits for libel can not affect the
caution money, and, under these ciTcum-
affect this caution money are very
carefully avoided. To start a
newspaper in Paris under the
present system scarcely any Capital is re-
quired, provided the cooperation Of one or
two popular writers is secured. tbs Ger
tain, also, that tho taste of the public is In
favor q personal journalism, for as hiss
Teen already said, very little attention is
paid to news, the freshest kilograms being
read after the picturesque essays of certain
writers. 1t is confessed by most strangers
in Paris that there is more in the system
than at first appears, at least az regards the
French language, and one feels growing
fondness for tho sprightly articles which are
daily given to the public. There is a GER
ain chaEIn about them which gains upon
one, and, although they all lose something
by translation, a better idea of them can be
from an example than from des-
oription.