There was a time a few years ago when anything French was to be avoided.

French fries, a staple for the obese (among others), were scratched from menus throughout America, replaced with the politically correct “freedom” fries designation. Diplomatic breakdowns occurred in culinary and gastronomical locations.

Jump ahead to 2009.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced in January that his government was going to stimulate the dissemination of news.

His approach, which he compared to bailing out the automobile industry, was to pump $90 million over three years into a beleaguered newspaper and magazine industry.

The French connection to the news prompted a few in the newspaper business in America to wonder aloud in e-mails whether such an approach might be in the offing in the United States.

President Obama, with the wind at his back, pushed ahead with his economic stimulus bill. With the price tag around $700 billion, surely, some of the e-mail writers suggested, there might be a few millions sitting on the table for newspapers. The message from Washington: Think again.

Observers cited these similarities with the French media: falling ad revenues and fewer subscriptions. But the similarities end far from the water’s edge.

In France, the government already subsidizes the media with advertisement and delivery dollars.

The Guardian in England wrote that the French press is “among the least profitable in Europe, stifled by rigid communist print unions, a lack of kiosks selling papers and a declining readership below that of the UK or Germany.”

In addition the Guardian pointed out that “politicians rewrite their own interviews” and “friends” of Mr. Sarkozy own major publications in France.

Mr. Sarkozy plans to put a free newspaper in the hands of everyone at age 18. The French president believes the reading habit starts young, and the free newspapers and three-year stimulus payment will provide plenty of time to reform the business.

A 90-point study, commissioned earlier by Mr. Sarkozy, identifies steps for reforming print media. The adage of “print or perish” no longer applies only to tenure-track college professors. For the print media, the new twist is, perish if you only print.

Strings attached to the French money? Most certainly, but there might be any number of American politicians at all levels of government who would relish the opportunity to edit their copy

prior to publication.

And before those who flogged the French several years ago stand up with open hands to accept a government bailout, it may be appropriate to reread the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While they’re at it, perhaps a refresher course on the role of the media in a free society as envisioned by the Founding Fathers would be instructive to avoid the temptation of a government handout.

Nobody said guaranteeing freedom (of the press) was easy. But it is worth the time, energy and concern that are being expended.

To reach Tom Griscom, call (423) 757-6472 or e-mail tgriscom@timesfreepress.com.