Identify press aid

What are the criteria for awarding press subsidies? What public funding can you apply for for your media project? Find the answers in this practical guide.

1. Subsidies for the press: What are we talking about?

There are a number of sources of financing for media. Press aid constitutes a significant part of it. France is one of the few countries to offer this type of support. Their existence is motivated by one of the State's objectives, which is to participate in strengthening and fostering new players within the media ecosystem in order to promote its pluralism. Press aid is defined as a set of direct public subsidies delivered by the State through the Ministry of Culture.

It typically takes a newly created media outlet difficult to achieve economic equilibrium before four years. Consequently, part of press aid is specifically directed toward projects in their early stages, to enable them to diversify and strengthen their economic models, which are often still fragile. Some of these aids are provided to media outlets that have been established for longer and are developing a new format, product, or editorial project. Finally, there are material aids linked to distribution or paper.

In 2024, the Ministry of Culture awarded a total of 175.2 million euros in direct grants, including 23.4 million euros under the six pluralism grants, 130.1 million euros for transportation and distribution grants, and 21.7 million euros for investment grants aimed at modernization.

Press subsidies are complemented by indirect support (tax relief measures). There are also other entities and institutions that provide aid for the cultural sector (publishing and video in particular) allowing media with matching formats to find financial assistance.

Occasional support within a broader economic model

Press subsidies are interesting for developing a media outlet and making it sustainable. However, it is essential not to center your entire business model, or a major part of it, on this type of funding in order to avoid becoming dependent on it and constraining your project to the requirements of grant applications.

It should also be noted that press aid can never be awarded to cover the entirety of a project's costs. It is preferable to consider such aid as an accelerator or stabilizer rather than as an essential component of the project.

A varied, viable, and sound economic model is necessary. The decision to seek public assistance must therefore be carefully considered.

What kinds of devices?

• To track your financial situation month by month, prepare a business plan to forecast your operations, and be ready to respond if you need to apply for a loan or grant, you can turn to Angel or Bpifrance, which, for example, offer solutions for creating a business plan, and several services and institutions provide free cash flow plan templates;
• The Union of Independent Online News Media (Spiil) provides its members with a wealth of advice and resources on how to prepare CPPAP accreditation applications or requests for press subsidies. Your membership in Spiil is one of the most worthwhile investments you can make, as you’ll find the resources and personalized support you need for your day-to-day work as a media executive.

2. Subsidies for the press: Who are they for?

To be eligible to receive one of these forms of assistance, you must meet a number of requirements, which vary depending on the type of assistance requested.

• You must be established as a legal entity;
• You are required to provide content recognized as informational (reliable, verified) that contributes to keeping citizens well-informed;
• You must respect republican, democratic and constitutional values;
• Your information production must be at least partly in French or in a regional language used in French territory.

Other criteria may also be taken into account:

• The type of press (regional and local, overseas, national, daily, etc);
• The type of medium (digital, paper) ;
• The product formats (reporting for example) ;
• The media's ability to create diversity, parity, and representativeness;
• The ability to promote French culture and thought abroad ;
• The ability to participate in Europe and the dissemination of European values;
• The project's environmental responsibility and sustainability.

3. Overview of Available Financial Assistance

There are various grants you can apply for to finance your development and/or investments, at the local, national or international level.

There are various grants you can apply for to finance your development and/or investments, at the local, national or international level.

Grant for emerging news media companies

• Organization: Ministry of Culture.
• Who is this for? New nonprofit organizations or media companies that have been in operation for less than three years.
• Amount of assistance: Up to €50,000.

Strategic Fund for Press Development (SFPD)

• Organization: Ministry of Culture.
• Who is this for? Media publishing companies with one or more specific projects.
• Amount of aid: Up to 1.5 million euros per project.

Fund to Support Local Social Information Media (FSMISP)

• Organization: Ministry of Culture.
• Who is it for? Media outlets with a strong local presence (region, city).
• Amount of assistance: Between €5,000 and €20,000.

Support for media pluralism through digital press services (SPTEL)

• Organization: Ministry of Culture.
• Who is this for? Media companies that publish one or more online-only news services recognized as providing political and general news (IPG) by the Joint Commission for Publications and News Agencies (CPPAP).
• Amount of aid: Up to 4 million euros.

Biennial Funding for Journals

• Organization: National Book Center (CNL).
• Who is this for? Journal publishers with at least three years of experience.
• Amount of assistance: Between €1,000 and €42,000.

Immersive Creation Grant Fund

• Organization: National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC Talent).
• Who is it for? Video and digital media companies with an innovative audiovisual project based on an immersive creative approach.
• Amount of funding: An average of €8,000 for writing grants, €40,000 for pre-production grants, and €82,000 for production grants.

Calls for Proposals for Cross-Sectoral European Projects

• Organization: European Commission. In France, Relais Culture Europe provides information, guidance, and support to project leaders so they can effectively respond to European calls for proposals.
• Who is it for? Media organizations and stakeholders in the media ecosystem that are active at the European level and collaborate with other European stakeholders (through partnerships, co-productions, networking, etc.).
• Amount of aid: A total of 2.44 billion euros allocated among the various programs for the 2021–2027 period.
• Some examples: Media Freedom Rapid Response Mechanism, Media Literacy, Journalism Partnerships.

4. A Few Alternatives

Some private funding from endowment funds or foundations can also be helpful in launching a project.

Fund for a Free Press (FPL)

• Organization: Founded by the co-founders and employees of Mediapart, the FPL issues an annual call for projects.
• Who is it for? Independent media outlets.
• Amount of funding: For 2027, the FPL is providing a total of approximately 300,000 euros, distributed among several projects.

Coop Media

• Organization: Coop-médias is a cooperative that brings together nearly 80 independent media outlets, social and solidarity economy organizations, and citizens.
• Who is this for? Independent media outlets, which have been part of the media landscape for several years, and organizations that provide tools, technologies, or services to strengthen their independence.
• Amount of funding: Since October 2024, Coop-médias has invested nearly 250,000 euros in independent media outlets, including Vert, Basta!, Marsactu, Fracas, Le Cri, and StreetPress.

5. Questions to Ask Yourself

Question 1 — Do I have all the necessary administrative, accounting, and legal documents to submit an application?

Identifying your legal status (association, SAS, SME), having it validated, and being able to explain your choice are essential steps to understanding which grants you are eligible for.

You must also have available all information that may be requested as part of a file submission: accounting documents, budget forecast, time in business and date of creation of your business or association, SIRET number, CPPAP number…

Question 2 — Have I identified a compelling business model for my media outlet?

Financial assistance cannot be your sole source of income. It is essential that you have established a viable business model with multiple sources of income, allowing you to plan for the future and justify your request for assistance. This assistance should serve as a supplement or a catalyst, but not as the cornerstone of your financial operations. In short, you must be able to make a living without the financial assistance you are requesting—even if that may seem paradoxical.

Question 3 — Why ask for help?

First, you must identify the reasons why you are requesting assistance. Is it to support the fixed costs of your media outlet, an innovation project or major overhaul of your project, or an opportunity you simply wish to seize because you meet the eligibility criteria?

This preliminary thinking will help you identify the arguments to present to those who will review your application in order to convince them to award you this assistance.

Don't forget that competition for aid applications can be fierce. You'll need to be rigorous, precise, convincing, and highlight what makes your project unique.

6. Focus on Countries

Since its founding in 2020, the magazine *Pays*, co-founded by Médianes, has received two government grants for the press. First, in 2022, we applied for the grant for emerging media companies—not for the biannual magazine, but to launch a monthly newsletter covering local news through the lens of national issues. This grant enables the magazine to fund this initiative and round out its business model. Then, in 2023, the magazine began receiving grants for magazines from the National Book Center.

At Médianes, we have supported several dozen applications for public or private grants, ensuring we stayed as close as possible to the needs and ideas of the projects.

7. Further Reading

• How do you define your business model? This practical guide provides an overview of existing business models—focused on specific audiences—to help you define your own.
• What kinds of press subsidies are available for your media outlet? Advice from Baptiste Thevelein, co-founder and CEO of Médianes.
• List of grants and funds by topic on the government website.
• Agencies, merchandise, publishing… This practical guide provides an overview and offers ideas to help you diversify your income.