Question 10862 — press and books

Summary

Ms. Christine Pires Beaune draws the attention of the Minister of Culture to the press distribution reform project. This distribution is currently governed by Law No. 47-585 of April 2, 1947 relating to the status of companies for the consolidation and distribution of newspapers and periodical publications known as the “Bichet law”. It imposes on the network the obligation to distribute any press title throughout France. THE The Government's project envisages, on the one hand, putting an end to the press cooperative system to give power to a private company and, on the other hand, restricting the number of titles that will be sold. These decisions, if they were to be confirmed, would raise growing concerns among professionals. Firstly, the provisions envisaged could put an end to the network's duty of impartiality. Furthermore, the professionals fear a challenge to the plurality of the press to the extent that the Bichet law now requires ensuring the distribution of all dailies, weeklies and other magazines having obtained recognition by the joint commission of the title “Press” (2,500 titles). With the end of the obligation to distribute throughout the territory, many newspapers from small publishers will no longer be sold because they will not be able to not compete with large publishers in negotiations with press sellers. They also have concerns, shared by their customers, relating to a new risk of territorial divide between large cities and rural areas. Small press sellers in the countryside will no longer deliver for small newspapers or niche presses. Professionals in rural sectors risk closing or losing a customers who will have to travel around town to find the magazine, review or newspaper they want to read. These rural professionals also fear a planned disappearance of press sales outlets in rural communities in favor of large and medium-sized stores. Also, she asks him to indicate the measures adopted by the Government in order to take into account the legitimate interests of press broadcasters, more particularly in rural areas.

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