Coronavirus: An “exceptional aid” granted to French newsagents
Independent French newsagents, badly shaken by the health crisis and the troubles of the former press distribution group Presstalis, are to receive an “exceptional aid” of at least 1,500 euros, according to a decree published in mid-August in the Government Gazette.
The aim is to “guarantee the continuity of press distribution.” The decree says it will provide help “for press distributors facing an emergency for the consequences of the health crisis and the suspension of payments by the main press distribution company, Presstalis, which became France Messagerie in July.”
This aid will comprise a one-time payment of €1,500, particularly for newsagents. This amount may be higher in some cities: 2,000 euros for example in Ajaccio, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse, and 3,000 euros in Lyon and Marseille.
On July 1, the Paris Commercial Court had endorsed the offer of the daily newspapers for the takeover of Presstalis, which became France Messagerie.
The former giant of press distribution in France had avoided closure in mid-May thanks to its bankruptcy proceedings. However, its subsidiaries in the regions had been closed down.
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Because of this situation, there were major distribution difficulties in several regions of France, while the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 had already hit newsagents.
Lyon and Marseille had been severely affected. In Lyon, the national press was not distributed for six weeks in May and June after the court-ordered closure. In Marseille, they reached no agreement to resume distribution of national newspapers which had not been on newsstands for three months (except Le Figaro).
At the beginning of July, the Economy and Culture Ministers announced a 19 million euro aid package for independent newsagents. Culture Presse, the federation of independent newspaper and magazine distributors, welcomed this announcement.