The purpose of this article is to analyze the French press of the second half of the 19th century, in which Guy de Maupassant had occasion to participate. This study focuses on the evolution of the French newspapers of the period and pays special attention to the Americanization and commercialization of the press in France. Furthermore, the text includes a number of the reactions which arose in response to this evolution, such as the appearance of new, quality newspapers and the preference for signed rather than anonymous articles