Before television became the most powerful medium of political communication in economically
developed nations, newspapers were of even greater importance to political parties than they are
now. Party leaders took great trouble and often spent large sums of money to ensure that
particular newspapers supported their 'party line'. Financial backing for newspaper sometimes
took the form of grants to apparently independent journals; at other times, parties set up
newspapers of their own.
The importance of a party press is illustrated by the fact that when the Bolshevik authorities
smuggled diamonds into Britain shortly after the Russian Revolution to stimulate British
working-class politics, one of their prime objectives was to assist the newspaper associated with
the British Labour Party, the Daily Herald. The diamonds had been confiscated from leading
families, including that of the Tsar, by the new regime.
There are parts of the world where newspapers have small circulations and where television is
not widely available. In countries such as Tanzania, radio and political meetings remain the main
forms of political communication. Party-affiliated newspapers exist, but have small circulations.
Press Subsidies
Despite the decline of the party press, there are a few countries in which public subsidies are
devoted specifically to such newspapers. Karl-Heinz Nassmacher has given the following
summary:
In both Sweden and Austria, public subsidies to the press are closely linked to
legislative action regarding parties and their funds. The Swedish party subsidy of 1965 was the
substitute for a proposed press subsidy; nevertheless a specific press subsidy was enacted a few
years later. In Austria, legislation concerning the party subsidy and the press subsidy was passed
jointly and even published in two consecutive chapters of the statute book.
[In Sweden] [a]ll papers belonging to the Social Democratic Party or the Trade
Unions are eligible for a press subsidy, as well as some papers owned by the (previously
agrarian) Centerpartiet.
[In Austria] [b]etween 1975 and 1982, eight daily papers that were closely linked
to the political parties - with less than one fifth of the total circulation - received about one third
of the federal press subsidy. This amounted to a 40 percent supplement of the party organization
subsidy.26
Other Subsidies
In some countries, public subsidies are given to other party-linked organisations. Professor
Paltiel, writing in 1981, listed the following examples of countries where there were public
subsidies to party-linked women's and youth organisations: Austria, Denmark, Finland,
Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, and Sweden.27
Further subsidies are given in some countries - especially Germany - to party foundations, see
Political Foundations.
Draft Only
