Graphic redesigns, fake media that tricks AI, and a method to boost your views

EDITION NO. 65

Graphic redesigns, fake media that tricks AI, and a method to boost your views

Hello,

In this edition, we're bringing you several exciting updates! Christelle Perrin, our design director, is launching a new series of interviews with art directors to show how design can clarify a media outlet's positioning or illustrate an evolution in its editorial direction. The first episode, dedicated to La Revue Dessinée, is available to discover right now. Are you an art director or do you feel concerned by these questions? Write to us!

Another major development we wanted to share with you: the launch of For the Media, a community that we now run alongside Marion Wyss. It brings together those who create French-language media to exchange ideas, help each other out as peers, share updates and job opportunities. Interested in joining us? You'll find all the information at the end of this edition.

Also on the agenda: mobilization at BFMTV, Radio Nova's comeback, fake local media that fooled AIs during the American midterms, and the latest figures on AI usage for news consumption.

Enjoy the read!

OWEN HUCHON, JOURNALIST AT MÉDIANES

1. DESIGN (Médianes) — A visual redesign is never just a matter of aesthetics. To better understand the strategic decisions and editorial changes that accompany it, we're launching a series of interviews with creative directors. First episode: La Revue Dessinée, which has been telling current events through comics since 2013. Rather than a complete overhaul, the publication chose a refresh. Its art director, Cat Gabillon, explains how to balance change without unsettling its readership.

2. AI (Médianes) — Google's AI Overviews, rolled out in France since late July, are concerning newsrooms whose traffic is declining. While their exact impact remains to be established, it's not the first time a web player has reshuffled the deck and forced media to adapt. How can we prevent this from happening again? Basta!, Splann! and Alternatives Économiques detail their strategies for regaining control of their distribution and building a loyal, engaged audience.

3. RÉSEAUX SOCIAUX (Nieman Lab) — Comment capter l’attention sur les réseaux quand l’audience croule déjà sous le divertissement ? Mongabay, média américain consacré à l’environnement, cartonne avec ses vidéos consacrées aux animaux « étranges ». Mais pour intéresser son audience à l’actualité, la rédaction mise sur les coulisses, l’incarnation et les solutions. Sur 3 422 articles analysés, ceux porteurs d’espoir génèrent 41% de trafic en plus.

4. JOURNALISM (Mediapart) — With 2027 drawing near, media coverage of the presidential election is at the heart of debates, even concerns, within newsrooms. This is the case at BFMTV, which experienced a historic labor action on November 5. The day before, 213 journalists expressed concern in a letter to management about the "normalization of certain racist or discriminatory remarks on air". To this is added an internal count showing that 51% of guests on the program "100% Mabrouk" are classified as right-wing or far-right.

5. AUDIENCE (Billboard France) — In one year, its audience more than doubled despite declining for a decade: Radio Nova experienced a historic 2026, with particularly strong growth among 13-24 year-olds. How? A former Deezer executive and now deputy director of the station, Frédéric Antelme explains the drivers behind this turnaround, which include a new visual identity, stronger on-the-ground presence, and music programming more aligned with current trends.

6. LOCAL PRESS (NPR) — In the United States, a network of sites mimicking local media promoted Democratic candidates during the midterms and in the process fooled generative AIs: ChatGPT cited these fake contents as reliable sources. A problem that looms even larger in media deserts, where the absence of genuine local media leaves the field wide open for these imitations.

7. AI (Reuters Institute) — AI is becoming a fixture in news consumption habits: 38% use it to stay informed in 2026, compared to 24% a year earlier. For news specifically, usage remains a minority practice but is growing (9%, versus 6% in 2025), primarily for asking a follow-up question on a topic but also… to get around a paywall. A practice driven more by ease of use than by trust: only 12% of respondents say they're comfortable with news that's 100% AI-generated.

8. MONETIZATION (Digiday) — The Times is planning to experiment with "macropayments", not to be confused with micropayments: rather than selling articles individually, the idea is to sell specific formats, such as guides, without "cannibalizing" its subscriber audience. The outlet is still considering the precise terms, such as the possibility of offering daily or weekly access to these formats. A strategy driven by flagging traffic that has become urgent to monetize and retain.

9. DATA (The Guardian) — The midterms are also a challenge for news media graphics teams: maps, charts, results tables… considerable preparation work, heightened this year by uncertainty surrounding the election. At The Guardian, the 14 data and visual journalists on the team anticipated multiple scenarios. 2026 was mainly an opportunity to learn from previous elections to refine the approach, in a climate of electoral distrust where everything comes down to even the choice of colors.

10. DATA (Sheets.works) — Want to know what people around the world are interested in right now? This interactive map of the most visited Wikipedia pages in each country gives you an overview, region by region, of topics making headlines. At a glance, you can spot countries where an unusual spike in visits quickly reveals breaking news.

ANNOUNCEMENT — Media independence is not determined solely within each newsroom; it is also built collectively. This is the conviction behind For the Media, the new French-speaking community launched by Médianes and Marion Wyss: monitoring, mutual aid, job listings, and more, for all journalism professions. To join us, visit pourlesmedias.org.

See you in two weeks!

The next issue of 10 Links will be sent to you on November 23rd. We'll meet on Thursday, November 19th for our Coulisses newsletter edition. Not yet subscribed to all our newsletters? Update your preferences so you don't miss them.

Until then, take care of yourselves and your social media.

This newsletter was prepared by Owen Huchon with the team at Médianes.

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