"The paper"

[shimself]

journal?

[Sitesurf]

No, in French, "papier" does not mean "journal".

"Papier journal" refers to the specific kind of paper used to make newspapers.

[shimself]

The question is how do you translate from English
The Paper (which given the definite article is most often used to mean the newspaper)
into French
I agree that papier doesn't mean journal

[Sitesurf]

According to context, it will be one or the other.