Another social consequence was the enhanced role of the press. For the first time it exerted an important influence on French political life.Bredin, The Affair, p. 471. It was possible to speak of a fourth estate since it could act the part of all state organs.Boussel, The Dreyfus Affair and the Press, p. 92 Especially as the high editorial quality of the press was mainly derived from the work of writers and novelists who used newspapers as a revolutionary way of expression. The power of the press certainly brought politicians to action, an example of which was Mercier, who appeared to have pushed at the Dreyfus trial in 1894 to please La Libre Parole who attacked ferociously. This being said the role of the press was limited by the size of circulation, influential in Paris but to a lesser extent nationwide.Bredin, The Affair, p. 474. The entire run of the national press appeared to revolve around four and a half million copies whose real influence was relatively strong. There was also assistance through the publication in 1899 of a specific newspaper intended to coordinate the fight (in the dreyfusard camp), with the People's Daily of Sébastien Faure.
Another social consequence was the enhanced role of the press. For the first time it exerted an important influence on French political life.Bredin, The Affair, p. 471. It was possible to s?peak of a fourth estate since it could act the part of all state organs.Boussel, The Dreyfus Affair and the Press, p. 92 Especially as the high editorial quality of the press was mainly derived from the work of writers and novelists who used newspapers as a revolutionary way of expression. The power of the press certainly brought politicians to action, an e,xample of which was Mercier, who appeared to have pushed at the Dreyfus trial in 1894 to please La Libre Parole who .attacked ferociously. This being said the role of the press was limited by the size of circulation, influential in Paris but to a lesser extent nationwide.Bredin, The Affair, p. 474. The entire run of the nation:al press appeared to revolve around four and a half million copies whose real influence was relatively strong. There was also assistance through the publication in 1899 of a specific newspaper intended to coordinate the fight (in the dreyfusard camp), with the People's Daily of Sébastien Faure.