BIGGEST READERS

Evening Star, Issue 23143, 17 December 1938, Page 2

BIGGEST READERS

HONOUR CLAIMED FOR CZECHS According to M. V, Crna, editor of 1 Nardoni Politika,’ Prague, in an article in the ‘ World’s Press News,’ London, Czechs arc the most ardent readers of papers and magazines among all European readers. “ We have 135 daily papers, of which 68 are printed in the Czechoslovak tongue, 69 in German, six in Hungarian, one in Russian, and one in the Polish laguage,” continued the editor. “ There are 657 weekly papers, of •which 39*1 are printed in Czechoslovak, 181 in German, 57 in Hungarian, 20 in Russian, and five in Polish.” Half these papers are printed in Prague. “ A striking feature of the Czech Press is the largo number of midday editions, known as the cheap papers. As a matter of fact, some of the midday papers cost only 20hal, the value of ‘the English farthing. Most_ papers which appear on the streets during midday are the first editions of the evening papers, while between 7 and 9 o’clock in the evening morning editions for the following day are already beig sold. With the general reader the midday paper is much in favour. “ The liberty of the Press is guaranteed by the Constitution. But the legislation in regard to the Press is an inheritance from 70 years ago, and readjustment is urgently needed.

11 There are certain restrictions which modify the liberty of the Press—e.g., the prohibition of circulation menacing public welfare and order, prohibition of provocative statements both in the political and in the economic sphere.” The oldest paper in Czechoslovakia is the ‘ Deutsche Zeitung Bohemia,’ Prague, which is now in the 111th year of its existence.

Tho oditor-in-cbicf of ' Lidove Moviny,’ Prague, states that the circulation of the Czechoslovakian newspaper is cut down by the existence of cafes, filled with daily and weekly papers. The average Czech drinks his small black coffee and at the same time consumes 15 to 20 dailies, as a reader, but not as a subscriber. “ Tt is n great thing for the political education of tho nation,” ho adds, “ but it is mighty bothersome for the newspaper concerns. One copy of a newspaper in a cafe or a reading room, of which there are also dozens, serves 30, 50, 80 readers.’*-