Birthday gifts: French President Sarkozy gives free newspapers to 18-year-olds

The French state will help provide free newspaper subscriptions to teenagers for their 18th birthdays, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Friday. But the bigger gift is for France’s ailing print media.

Sarkozy also announced a ninefold rise in the state’s support for newspaper deliveries and a doubling of its annual print advertising outlay amid a swelling industry crisis.

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2009-01-23-french-newspapers_N.htm