Key questions: What is the history of the French press and is it in decline?

This week we will examine the history of the French printed press, especially the newspaper industry. In the lecture, we will look at the major developments in the French newspaper industry, while in the seminars we will examine specific newspapers in more detail. We will ask why French newspapers are so different to their British counterparts and examine how the French State has at various times intervened in the running of French newspapers and news magazines. In the seminars, small groups of students will present on their reading of a given newspaper.