The removal of the “Print” button, the return of lists, and an FM radio for streaming podcasts

ISSUE No. 63

The removal of the “Print” button, the return of lists, and an FM radio for streaming podcasts

Hello,

In this issue, we wanted to share our perspective on technological independence: why we believe it is essential not only to document but also to actively defend—particularly by supporting the media outlets we work with. Baptiste Thevelein and Marine Doux, co-founders of Médianes, discuss the internal changes we’re implementing to strengthen our own independence and the ongoing development of Socle, our suite of open-source tools.

Also on the agenda: the disappearance of the “Print” button from news sites, a newspaper distributed as a PDF, September traffic figures following the launch of AI Overviews in France, and a game for destroying websites.

Enjoy the read!

OWEN HUCHON, JOURNALIST AT MÉDIANES

1. INDEPENDENCE (Médianes) — Technological independence has become a key pillar of media empowerment. At Médianes, this issue is reflected both in our editorial coverage and in the support we provide to the media outlets we work with. It’s also a commitment we aim to put into practice internally and extend through the creation of open-source tools. Here’s why and how.
2. PAPIER (Médianes) — The “Print this article” button has disappeared from news websites with relatively little fanfare. A mistake? While the idea of making it easier to print an article may seem completely outdated, the renewed interest in print, the search for distribution channels outside of GAFAM, and the increased emphasis on reader comfort are all arguments that could justify its return.
3. FORMAT (CJR) — Seeking to offer a free newspaper—without a paywall and capable of bypassing algorithms and censorship—The Atlas is banking on a format it describes as “anything but sexy”: the PDF. The result of a collaboration between the American media outlet Coda Story and the South African weekly The Continent, the project launched a few months ago with small-scale distribution via Signal or WhatsApp.
4. METHOD (The Guardian) — Whether covering conflicts or climate change, satellite imagery remains a go-to tool for newsrooms when reporting on large-scale situations. While useful for remotely covering areas that are difficult for journalists to access, they carry a risk: dehumanizing and sanitizing the news. The Guardian explains how its newsroom has used them in recent investigations.
5. FORMAT (The New Yorker) — The 50 Best Albums, the 30 TV Shows You Must See in Your Lifetime, the 100 Artists Who Shaped the 21st Century… Once reduced to a mere SEO tool, the “list” format is regaining its prestige in the media, seen as a way to put people back at the heart of curation in the face of a web saturated by AI. The New York Times, for example, recently appointed a “Canon editor” to oversee this type of content.
6. PLATFORMS (Anil Dash) — Asterisks, emojis, or coded words: “algospeak” has become commonplace on social media… but at what cost? Used to circumvent potential platform censorship, it encourages the use of euphemisms when discussing serious topics, with troubling consequences—especially when the media jumps on the bandwagon. In the long term, AIs, which feed on this content, could adopt this habit as well.
7. NEWS (JournalismUK) — To expand its audience, the Slovak media outlet Denník N has taken an unconventional approach: launching an FM radio station that will primarily be used to broadcast its podcasts. According to Patricia Voľanská, who oversees new formats, radio is a key channel for reaching the 80% of the Slovak population who listen to it at work or in the car. To fund the project, a crowdfunding campaign raised more than €160,000.
8. AI (Le Monde) — France was one of the last countries to see the arrival of AI Overviews, those summaries generated by Google. Drumroll, please: nearly all media outlets—including the Alliance for Press and Media Figures (ACPM), which published the data—are reporting a decline in traffic compared to September 2025. Is AI to blame? Other factors complicate the picture, but some media outlets believe it is exacerbating the trend and are criticizing insufficient compensation.
9. OSINT (ZDNet) — Mediapart’s investigation into Jordan Bardella’s anti-Semitic writings is a textbook example of OSINT. Contrary to what his critics might suggest, it is not based on mere “screenshots” but on a wide range of methods: the right to access data under the GDPR, metadata analysis, and more. Here’s how the editorial team went about it.
10. GAME (Destroy any Website) — Has an article gotten under your skin recently? Fed up with intrusive ads or a terrible UX? Vent your frustration with this little game that lets you play as a character and destroy a web page with the weapon of your choice: flamethrower, drone, rocket launcher, bombs… You can even add a dedicated button to your own site to let your readers start a game with a single click right on your page.
    
    ANNOUNCEMENT — Médianes is a partner of the conference “Ce que la data dit que l’on ne soupçonne pas !” (what the data tells us that we don’t suspect), devoted to podcast data and organized by Louie Media this Thursday, October 15, in Paris (13th arrondissement). On the agenda: understanding the differences between the available data, getting to know your audiences better, and improving the search visibility of your content. Spots are limited: sign up for free here.

See you in two weeks!

The next edition of “10 Links” will be sent to you on October 26. We’ll be back this Thursday with the latest edition of our “Coulisses” newsletter. 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.

Médianes

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