- The democrat of Aisne , the last newspaper printed in lead, is forced to suspend its publication, threatened by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Since the start of the confinement, postage times have been extended and the newspaper has no more local information to give because all the demonstrations are canceled.
- This newspaper, printed in 1,400 copies, has existed for 114 years.
It has withstood two world wars and the digital revolution ... But The Democrat of Aisne , which claims to be the last newspaper in the world printed with lead, is also threatened by the coronavirus pandemic, and forced to suspend its publication.
“Since the start of confinement, the postage times have been extended. We have no more local information to give as all events are canceled. Our pictures are not delivered to us… ”, explains to AFP Jacques Piraux, 78, editor-in-chief of the weekly based in Vervins, in Aisne.
Newspaper resisted "all the glitches"
"As for the staff, it is composed of two retirees [for whom reporting would be risky] and three young people busy with their children ...", he adds, believing that he has no other choice but to stop publishing it. .
However, the newspaper resisted "all the glitches", in particular the "arrival of information technology", notes Jacques Piraux, who has devoted, for thirty-three years, all his time to his passion for publishing this journal of four pages, sold 60 cents and printed at 1,400 copies. "In 114 years, the publication has been stopped only twice, during the two world wars in 1914 and 1940! "
Today, the Democrat has 1,180 subscribers, some "around the world", such as "Sydney, Taiwan, Germany or America", lists the director, proud that his newspaper is elsewhere "the last in the world »Printed with lead. "There was another one in the United States but they stopped last year ..."
A unique press heritage
"What will our future be? »Wonders today Jacques Piraux, who dares not imagine the prospect of going digital, contrary to the spirit of his newspaper. “I did not last 33 years to preserve a unique heritage of the press and printing, to go on the Internet! "
However, he wants to keep the hope that the suspension remains temporary. “The Democrat must leave (…) How could I imagine that a frightening virus comes to put an end to this beautiful human and technical adventure? He wrote in the last issue.
“The clicking of the linotype, the noise of the press bearings will be heard again. And through the half-opened door, the exceptional and so particular odor of ink and hot lead will come out, ”he adds.
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