Hergé, a history inherent to the press

Freedom of the press is a fundamental value for society and for individuals, as it ensures free and objective information. Every year on May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day is celebrated to remind people of its importance and to defend the independence of the media. It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to journalists and other media professionals who risk their lives to report the truth.

Hergé's work is closely linked to the press. Indeed, Hergé began publishing his drawings in Le Boy-Scout Belge at the age of 18. The Adventures of Tintin were subsequently published in numerous newspapers and magazines, including L'Echo Illustré and Le Soir. His stories could therefore be read alongside the major news stories.

Not to mention the fact that the press has a predominant place in Hergé's work. The hero of his prodigious adventures is still a reporter. Although Tintin is a very young man. We only see him really writing one report, in the first adventure, Tintin in the Land of the Soviets. In fact, he is as much an adventurer as a detective, which will lead him to travel the world and confront the forces of evil. The reporter has only one obsession: more than searching for it, Tintin wants to restore the truth.

Nevertheless, the press plays an important role in The Adventures of Tintin, whether it serves as an introduction to the story, as a common thread or as a driving force for the plot. Press clippings appear regularly in the Tintin stories, either to provide the reader with punctuation, or to feed the narrative. In some adventures, such as The Castafiore Emerald and Tintin and the Picaros, the media even play a central role in the plot.

Articles can also be inserted into the story to advance the plot, as in The Seven Crystal Balls, where newspaper clippings keep the reader on the edge of their seats, waiting for a new victim of the curse of the scary Rascar Capac.

Hergé was able to adapt his work to the evolution of the press, notably by integrating new media such as radio and television into his later stories.

In conclusion, freedom of the press is a fundamental value of our society, and the work of Hergé is a perfect example of this. Through his outstanding contribution to comic strip cartoons and popular culture, Hergé highlighted the importance of maintaining a free and democratic society. Through the character of Tintin, a fearless young reporter eager for the truth, Hergé showed that the press was an indispensable tool in the fight against injustice and corruption.