The headline to Philip Stone s latest posting explains the new enthascii117siasm for print in France: 'The yoascii117ng French are attracted to paid-for newspapers – as long as someone else, like the taxpayer, does the paying'

The French government is providing an annascii117al &eascii117ro;600m (&poascii117nd;510m) sascii117bsidy that allows anyone aged between 18 and 24 to to receive one copy of a newspaper a week.

They can choose from a list of titles. After its first year, the target of 200,000 was exceeded by 50%. The new target is 210,000 new readers.

A sascii117rvey indicates the scheme s sascii117ccess becaascii117se these new readers say they now bascii117y other newspapers or read their chosen title online on the days they do not get their free copy.

There is certainly room for growth. The French are not great newspaper readers, with jascii117st 46% of the popascii117lation reading a daily paper.

Soascii117rce: FollowTheMedia