The Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, welcomes the publication on November 15 of two decrees instituting emergency aid for recognized press titles of political and general information (IPG) particularly affected by the health crisis.
They concern, on the one hand, the publishers most weakened by the liquidation of Presstalis and, on the other hand, the ultramarine titles.
These exceptional measures, the appropriations of which were voted in the third amending finance law for the year 2020, are part of the "press" plan wanted by the President of the Republic. They complete a first decree, published in the Official Journal of 15 August, providing exceptional aid to press broadcasters.
The decree instituting exceptional aid, totalling EUR 8 million, for the publishers most vulnerable by the judicial liquidation of Presstalis is addressed to IPG publishers eligible for pluralism aid (aid for newspapers and publications with low advertising resources) or whose sales are less than €5 million per year. The beneficiaries of the aid were to be distributed by courier on 12 March 2020.
The decree instituting exceptional aid totalling EUR 3 million for ultramarine publishers benefits all IPG titles, printed or online, from overseas. Given their specificities, these publications face a particularly difficult situation. This measure aims to preserve the access of the inhabitants of the French Overseas Territories to a pluralist press, which is a component of freedom of information, the quality of democratic debate and social cohesion.
The aid will be paid to their beneficiaries within the next few weeks.
The Minister of Culture remains fully mobilized to ensure her support to the press sector in accordance with the commitments made by the President of the Republic.