The Last Newsboy of Paris Retires After Decades - Paris Newspaper Vendor Honored by Macron After 50 Years of Struggle

Ali Akbar, a familiar face in Paris's Quartier Saint-Germain, has spent half a century selling newspapers on its streets. Once part of a thriving trade, his business has dwindled to just 30 papers a day—barely enough to survive. Now, after decades of hardship and resilience, he has been honoured with France's highest award, the Legion of Honor, by President Emmanuel Macron himself.

Akbar's journey began out of necessity. As a child, he endured forced labour and violence before finding refuge in selling papers. By the 1970s, he was one of dozens of vendors in Paris, a number that later swelled to thousands with the rise of publications like Le Titi Parisien in the 1990s. Supported by NGOs such as Emmaüs and government subsidies, street vendors flourished, peaking at 2,000–3,000 in the 2000s. But digital media and urban gentrification have since shrunk their ranks to around 1,500–2,000 today.

Akbar became a fixture in Saint-Germain, a district teeming with intellectuals and future leaders—including a young Emmanuel Macron. Known for his whimsical, often fictional headlines, he carved out a niche in a fading tradition. His playful approach to news, blending fantasy with reality, made him a local character.

Last week, at the Élysée Palace, Macron presented Akbar with the Legion of Honor, recognising his contribution to French culture. The ceremony marked a rare moment of recognition for a man who once struggled in obscurity. With citizenship now within reach, Akbar's story stands as a testament to endurance in an era where street vendors like him are nearly extinct.

The award brings Akbar a step closer to French citizenship, a milestone after decades of uncertainty. His daily sales have plummeted, reflecting the broader decline of street newspapers in Paris. Yet his legacy remains—a reminder of a time when newsboys were a vital part of the city's fabric.