And so farewell, International Herald Tribune. The 125-year-old newspaper, based here in Paris, will soon change its name to The International New York Times, to reflect the identity of its owner. Rationally, the change makes perfect sense. But the IHT has always been one of my lovemarks, as Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Kevin Roberts describes brands that inspire "loyalty beyond reason". And what could be less reasonable than walking down to a kiosk every morning and paying three euros (you read that correctly: three euros!) for something I could read for free online? I do so because, to me, the IHT is far more than a newspaper. It is a myth, a ritual - even part of my identity.
Banished to Paris after crudely dumping his fiancée on the night of their engagement, James Gordon Bennett Junior created the International Herald Tribune for what he called "the international class". And that's what attracted me, even when I lived in England. This was a newspaper for nomads, for people who were not tied to the culture of a single country but were open to the world. Even as a teenager, I imagined unfurling the IHT at some distant café table. Just the sight of the masthead conjures up the aroma of coffee and the warmth of morning sunshine slanting under an awning. Will I read The International New York Times? Of course. But I still feel as if a little part of my universe has faded away.
