'Le Constitutionnel': Authors an activities of a leading French newspaper, 1815-1848.

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Gudrun Gersmann
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 228988455

Object of the analysis is Le Constitutionnel, a leading liberal opposition newspaper, published in Paris since 1815 and soon becoming the most popular print product of France. Closely linked to the project of constitutional monarchy, the authors were able to provide a largely welcomed forum for issues and discussions of parliamentary debates and social life. Operating according to changing restrictions of royal censorship, the thousands of newspaper articles referred to a wide range of backgrounds, connections and interactions which are currently analysed within the methodological framework of new approaches to the history of communication and media. The analysis focuses intensely on the growing section of book reviews from the field of historical and political literature which were continually introducing the most innovative aspects of public discussions. At the same time, by taking a close look on new forms of editorial and political commitment and on new ways of dealing with rivalling newspapers and publishers of ultra-royalist or early socialist tendencies, the project is revealing new insights into the structures of political networks, internal conflicts and decision making in 19th century France.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants