Behind the Scenes: Should We Create Media Outlets?

MAY 2026 ISSUE

Creating for the Long Term

Hello, everyone,

Media concentration has never been greater. And that is precisely why it has never been more important to strengthen pluralism and independence. This conviction runs throughout this month’s issue: Is there still a need to create new media outlets? We share concrete ways to take action, whether you’re in Paris, Biel, or sitting in front of a screen.

That’s also what gives meaning to what we do every day. We’ve been working with Vert for over four years, and we’ve just taken a new step together: redesigning their website for a media outlet that has become a leading source for environmental news.

We saw that same passion for independent journalism at Sphera: our team and our partners faced the difficult task of selecting 6 projects from among 74 applications from 15 countries. The winners will be announced very soon.

Enjoy the read,

MARINE DOUX, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF MÉDIANES

Our approach

STUDIO NEWS

A New Website for Vert

We are proud to have worked with Vert on the redesign of its website. The challenge? To visually and technically convey a new phase for the editorial team—that of a leading media outlet covering environmental news, with a strong, distinctive identity.

This style is evident right from the homepage, where the feed of good news and videos form a true editorial signature woven into the design. This redesign also paves the way for the future: the addition of a user account lays the groundwork for new developments (member-only content, customer loyalty, monetization).

All of this was done on a tight schedule and with a budget suited to the realities of an independent media outlet. Want to see how it turned out?

→ Visit Vert's website: vert.eco

To go further

• While we wait to share a behind-the-scenes look at this project, take a look back at how we’ve supported Vert since 2022: marketing strategy, design, and management.
• Interested in redesigning your website on a budget? Learn more about our expertise in this area.

From the media's perspective

OUR LATEST POST

Do we still need to create new media?

Information overload, an attention crisis, an unstable economic climate: there’s no shortage of reasons not to take the plunge. And yet, there’s still a lack of media coverage. There are regions without coverage, communities without representation, and topics that are only touched upon superficially.

Create, yes. But not at any cost. Not at the expense of job insecurity, burnout, or a project without a solid foundation. Because before it’s an editorial project, a media outlet is an entrepreneurial venture.

At the Ground Control Independent Media Festival, we explored this question with project leaders. We believe that the right question isn’t “Should we create?” but “How can we create in a way that lasts?”

→ Read the column by Sixtine Yung and Marine Doux on Médianes.

To go further

• Our training program for launching or professionalizing a media outlet is back from June 16 to July 8! Registration is open until June 3; financial assistance may be available.

On the network side

NEWS FROM SPHERA

After 74 applications, 6 projects will join Sphera

Media Collabs is a program run by Sphera, our European network of independent newsrooms, designed to support six media outlets and content creators dedicated to social causes over an eight-month period through mentoring, training, and access to the network. The jury has just made its decision, and we’ll be announcing the selected projects very soon!

74 nominations, 15 countries, and projects covering investigative journalism, social justice, climate, culture, and minority issues. These figures speak to the appetite for independent journalism across the continent.

The selection was entrusted to Marco Carlone and Hélène Pillon (Médianes), as well as to our partner editorial teams: Krytyka Polityczna (Poland), StreetPress (France), 444 (Hungary), Popaganda (Greece), VD News (Italy), and El Salto (Spain).

The goal? To forge lasting ties among socially conscious media outlets and share expertise across the continent.

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THAT WAY, YOU'LL KNOW

→ The Socle Offering: Gain Technological Independence

Socle is Médianes’ turnkey solution for publishing, distributing, and monetizing your content without relying on a closed platform. To learn what it includes and how it works, visit our new dedicated page. Learn more.

→ Mascots: Just a gimmick, or a real lead for the media?

Apple, Mozilla, Duolingo: Mascots Are Making a Notable Comeback in the Tech World. Could the media take inspiration from them to reconnect with their audiences? Check out Owen Huchon’s article on our website.

→ Practical guides to help you organize your media

Need to clarify roles in your newsroom? Or structure your editorial workflow? The latest how-to guides from Médianesanswer all your questions.

→ A Look Back at Our Collaboration with the City of Paris

We worked with the City of Paris’s Information Division on a management project aimed at improving team coordination, sharing best practices, and identifying areas for improvement. Take a look behind the scenes of our project!

→ See you in Switzerland!

Baptiste Thevelein, CEO of Médianes, will be at the Presstival on May 23 and 24 in Biel alongside Mediapart and Blast to lead a workshop titled “Launching Your Media Outlet: From Idea to Viable Business Model.”

Médianes

We are a media outlet, a studio, and a network dedicated to independent journalism.