L'indépendance luxembourgeoise
L'indépendance luxembourgeoise was a French-language daily newspaper in Luxembourg, published from 1871 to 1934. It was founded by Jean Joris. After his death in 1893, it appeared under the printer-publisher Joseph Beffort (1845-1923) and his successors.[1] Its editors, contributors and managers included Etienne Hamélius (1856-1929), Joseph Hansen (1874-1952), Charles Becker (1881-1952), Marcel Noppeney (1877-1966) and Paul Weber (1898-1976).[1]
History[edit]
After Jean Joris had ceased to publish L'Avenir, the first issue of L’indépendance luxembourgeoise appeared on 1 October 1871, which Joris would publish until his death in 1893.[2]
Where others had failed to found another daily on the small Luxembourgish market, faced with older titles that had existed for some decades, Joris experienced remarkable success: his newspaper would appear for more than 60 years. He had discovered a niche for a French-language newspaper. It was possibly the most successful newspaper creation of the years following the Franco-Prussian War.[2] L’indépendance considered itself pro-government and on the side of civil servants, but also wanted to appear more or less neutral, likely in order to not scare off any potential readers.[2] Its commentaries were often affected and sanctimonious in tone.[2] In spite of everything, it was accused by the Journal de Luxembourg of being hostile to religion.[2]
Its four pages, divided into four columns, started with international news and an arts section, followed by national news and readers' letters on page 2. On page 3 there followed, apart from a "Miscellaneous" section, adverts and notices which continued on the last page. Court judgements, reports from the Chamber of Deputies, numerous items of international affairs, extracts from the Mémorial (the government gazette) and a press review, were all part of an aim to offer a complete newspaper which would the purchase of other titles unnecessary.[2] L’indépendance was a profitable enterprise, judging by the number of highly varied visual advertisements, with display ads and different fonts and illustrations, for very different consumer goods – chocolate, lottery tickets, clothes, binoculars, wigs, or tobacco.[2]
The last edition that has been preserved is dated 31 December 1934.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Indépendance luxembourgeoise (L')". Bibliothèque nationale du Luxembourg. 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Les journaux au Luxembourg 1704-2004 (PDF) (in French). Luxembourg: Service information et presse du gouvernement luxembourgeois. 2004. p. 114. ISBN 2-87999-136-6.