The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-12
JOURNALISM IN FRANCE.
The Rank and File Find Life a Hard
Struggle.


The Rank and File Find Life Hard
Struggle.
Speaking generally, journalism in
France is not a remunerative profession.
With few notable exceptions, both Jour
nails and journalists have a struggle to
live, and the prospects for both seem to be
getting more gloomy. A well-known edi-
tor has lately given expression to the fol-
lowing facts.
Dealing first with journalists, he says
that the exceptions are Francisque Sarcev,
h. Fouquier and H. Maret, who earn
something like $4,000 year by writing
articles, and editors like FIR Maynard Gle
FL garol. H. Rochefort U'Intransigeant).
T. de Cassagnac u'Autorite) and E. Dru-
mont (Libre Parole, the anti-Semitic news
paper, who make a respectable income
But all these men have to work far
harder IN proportion to their earnings
than their confreres in England and
America. Francisque Sarcey is probably
the most popular journalist in the world ;
1t IS fair estimate to say that his articles
IN different papers are read by 1900, 900 Of
people every week, without counting his
work for the American monthly, "The
Cosmopolitan"
There is sharp contrast between the
the cleverest of the ordinary run Of French
Journalists. An income of ESQ per an
mum is considered very good indeed; the
majority earn from f120 to $780, The
journalists who earn such salaries are
generally regular members of the staff of
a newspaper. A large number of men
live almost from hand to mouth unable
to obtain regular engagement; and I'M
fortunately the regular situations are be-
coming more and more scarce. The num-
Der OF men absolutely out of work is rela-
lively greater than in any other profession
the two professional associations have
nearly one-third of their members with
out occupation.
tits much the same with the newspapers;
some pay well, but the majority of those
which keep alive do not yield q good re-
turn. Although the total number of Jour
nails increases, the absolute mum Der of
readers remains the same-that is, the cir
culation obtained by a newcomer, or the
increase in the circulation of an estab-
Hshed journal. simply means that so many
subscribers have deserted other papers,
The two most widely circulated papers
in France are LIE Petit Journal and lie
Petit Parlsien both halfpenny dailies
The former, which has circulation of over
100000, is able truthfully to boast of the
Largest circulation in the world" The
Petit Parisien is rapidly overtaking its
French rival.
Newspapers in France live by their sales
which, of course, do not give them chance
TO pay handsome salaries. In other coun-
tries, except those Inhabited by Latin
races, newspapers live by their advertise
ments.
The advertisements of all kinds in the
three principal German papers are enor-
nous; even the Russian journals Novoe
Vremya, Novosti and Viedomosti have
each more advertisements than all the
Partisan papers put together. The Times,
with circulation probably not exceeding
10000, spends more money than a small
German state, whereas a French paper
with six times the circulation can only log
along decently. And there is probably a
worse time coming. Not only are adver-
easements becoming fewer, but the mum Der
of people in all parts of the world who
speak French is constantly diminishing.