No. 89 — Paper Fever
It’s September 5, 2024, and you’re reading the newsletter from Médianes.
Hello, everyone,
Many media outlets are returning to print to diversify their revenue streams and offer an experience that complements the web.
While the return to print—seen as a complement to digital—is already a reality, it raises an interesting question: What if we were on the cusp of a new era in which print were to once again become the norm? In this issue, we present several real-world examples to illustrate this trend and spark discussion.
As the new school year begins, we, too, are exploring new avenues for diversification. In this newsletter, you’ll find an advertising insert. It’s designed to highlight your job openings, events, project launches, campaigns, and more. Want to be among the first to try it out? Let’s talk!
Enjoy the read,
— MARINE SLAVITCH, JOURNALIST AT MÉDIANES
Why not?
IDEAS FOR YOUR MEDIA
The media are starting to print again. And they’re printing all sorts of things, too: newspapers, journals, magazines, fanzines, special editions, books, letters, and posters. Are people fed up with all the screens? Probably, but that’s not the only reason. At a time when revenue from the web is far from guaranteed, print is becoming a major pillar of support for media brands.
Climax: The Paper That Builds Credibility
In 2021, Climax—a paid newsletter dedicated to environmental issues—was launched. It has since become a free supplement—and a marketing asset—to a print fanzine funded by subscriptions, donations, and studio revenue. “The print edition has helped generate interest in our project,” notes Lauren Boudard, co-founder. Here, the printed publication lends the project an aura that makes it seem more credible and professional—a symbolic weight that digital media struggles to match.
Monocle: Print as a Point of Entry
At Monocle, a British magazine making its debut in Paris this fall, it all starts with print. Deliberately staying off social media, the publication prefers to invest in channels it controls entirely. Its presence in physical retail locations—including its own stores—and its events serve as its showcase, making print not only a medium for content but also a key vehicle for capturing attention. The long-standing magazine, founded in 2007, along with its spin-offs (special editions, newspapers, travel guides, etc.), serves as a gateway to the media brand without relying entirely on algorithms.
Nylon: The Magazine That Sells Advertising
After discontinuing its print edition in 2017 to focus on digital, Nylon has decided to relaunch its print magazine. Naturally, this reversal is less about offering a beautiful product and more about generating advertising revenue, which has become unstable online. The satirical outlet The Onion is following the same line of thinking, currently in the midst of relaunching its print newspaper, which it had discontinued ten years earlier. Who could have predicted that modern rescue operations would rely on print?
From the studio's perspective
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
What are the unique aspects of graphic design for independent media? What stance do we take at ?Médianes Why is it important to consider your artistic direction as early as possible? And finally, what is the purpose of graphic design? Christelle, our art director, took advantage of the summer to write our first manifesto on graphic design.
On Our Radar
OUR MARKET RESEARCH TO SUPPORT YOUR PROJECTS
What a welcome!
JEANNE CASEZ / STILL IMAGES
In an interview with *Arrêt sur images*, fourteen young journalists shared their experiences from past internships. “[…] they all pointed out one thing in common: they performed the same work as a salaried journalist, for internship stipends ranging from 0 to 1,060€ net per month. ” To the managers reading this, we’d like to take this opportunity to share this resource from CFDT-Journalistes on the rights of the interns you host.
Putting One's Foot in It
DAMIAN RADCLIFFE / JOURNALISM.CO.UK
It’s no longer just about sharing recipes or reviewing restaurants: food journalists are now focusing on the political and cultural impact of cuisine and delving deeper into issues of diversity. This is a great opportunity—if you haven’t already—to discover Croque-Marseille, Le Fooding, and Îlots, three media outlets on this topic that we really love.
Over at medianes.org
IT'S HOMEMADE
This month's media: The Creative Independent
OWEN HUCHON / MEDIANES.ORG
Each month, a team member shares their take on a media outlet they particularly enjoy. In this edition, we’re featuring The Creative Independent: a website that brings together a wealth of resources for creatives and showcases all forms of art.
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In Brief
THAT WAY, YOU'LL KNOW
• Kometa, Contexte, Le Monde: These media outlets are hiring. Check out their job openings.
• Because the world isn't as perfect as presentation mockups make it out to be, here's Fockups, a tool for realistic simulations.
• The next issue of the magazine *Les Explorations*, published by the Swiss media outlet Heidi.news, takes readers on a global tour of thriving media outlets.
• We love this feedback from Télérama, whose editorial staff covered a sporting event for the first time during the Olympics.
• *Pop Fascisme*, the upcoming book from Divergences Publishing, will explore the rise of the far right on the Internet. It promises to be fascinating.
See you on September 19!
Thank you for your messages, which have helped us enrich this newsletter. We’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome the teams at Louie Media, France Culture, and Arty Farty, as well as everyone who has recently subscribed.
See you on September 19. Until then, take care of yourselves and your social media.
— THIS NEWSLETTER WAS PREPARED BY MARINE SLAVITCH IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MÉDIANES TEAM.
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