Building a Community of Donors

No. 127 — JULY 2, 2026

Building a Community of Donors

Hello, everyone,

Many of you have asked us why fundraising is becoming increasingly effective in the media. Above all, you want to know how to make it work for you, too.

We’ve tried to answer this question with the first case study in a new series focused on the strategies of independent European media outlets. Our reporter Owen Huchon examined the practices of about ten media outlets—from The Guardian to Reporterre to Novara Media—to try to understand what persuades readers, what converts them, and what builds long-term loyalty.

We’re also (re)sharing our guide to crowdfunding for anyone considering getting started.

And because we believe that independence is also built collectively, we look forward to seeing you on July 8 in Paris for an evening event on this topic, featuring three guests we can’t wait to introduce to you!

Enjoy the read,

MARINE DOUX, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF MÉDIANES

The Strategy

Ideas for Your Media

Turn your readers into a community of donors

One million regular supporters for The Guardian, 36% of StreetPress’s revenue, 95% of Reporterre’s budget: donations aren’t limited to socially conscious or open-access media outlets. It’s a tool that can be adapted to a wide variety of business models, provided you know how to create the conditions to earn it.

To convince

Before asking your readers for support, they need to understand why their support matters… and what it actually accomplishes! This involves clarifying your values and commitments and highlighting your impact. Manifesto, impact report, financial report: there are many formats, but the goal is the same—to build trust.

Convert

It’s easier to secure a donation when there’s a specific purpose: a particular project, an investigation, or an editorial transition. And the more concrete the purpose, the more natural the question of the amount becomes: How much does this report, this tool, or this transition cost? The project gives substance to the request, including financially.

Build loyalty

Turning a reader into a donor is just the first step. Building loyalty comes down to simple gestures (thanking, keeping them informed, involving them) and fostering a sense of belonging. What keeps a donor engaged over the long term is rarely a mug; it’s the feeling of being valued by the media outlet they support.

Want to learn more? This issue, dedicated to donations, kicks off a new series of case studies analyzing the strategies and practices of independent European media outlets. The first installment is available for free on our website: to read it, keep reading and go to the “Our Latest Publications” section.

On the network side

A GLANCE AT THE NEWS

On Tuesday, July 7, Médianes invites you to an evening in Paris to imagine a new space where we can come together and share our resources. On the agenda: a roundtable on the collective as a condition for independence.

Three panelists will discuss the topic alongside Marine Doux, editorial director and co-founder of ;Médianes Clémentine Forissier, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Contexte, a political media outlet specializing in European issues; Thomas Seymat, Head of Innovation and Digital at ARTE Info, at the intersection of cultures, languages, and European journalism;

Johan Weisz-Myara

, founder of StreetPress, a socially conscious media outlet that has been covering social struggles in French society since 2008.

→ Free registration. We'll be waiting for you starting at 7:00 p.m. at TLM Paris (105 rue Curial, 75019 Paris).

On Our Radar

What We're Reading Right Now

Post Less, but Better

PRESS GAZETTE / ALICE BROOKER

A few years ago, The Lever, a young American investigative media outlet, published one investigative report per day. Now, the editorial team produces two or three per week… and has never had as many employees or as many subscribers. This deliberate slowdown is accompanied by a shift in the business model.

"Journalists are bragging"

MÉDOR / Chloé Andries & Céline Gautier

The "I" is making its way into news articles as a hoped-for antidote to the crisis of confidence

, in a context where current narrative trends emphasize embodiment. Is this a practice that allows one to openly examine one’s legitimacy to speak on a subject… at the risk of a form of self-censorship or of sacrificing one’s personal life on the altar of embodiment?

Our Latest Posts

It's homemade

Turn your readers into a community of donors

OWEN HUCHON / MIDFIELDERS

Starting this summer and continuing through the end of the year, we will publish a monthly case study focused on independent media. For this first issue, we’ve analyzed the strategies of more than a dozen media outlets for growing and strengthening their donor communities, along with our tips on how to implement them.

Run a crowdfunding campaign

THE MÉDIANES TEAM

Crowdfunding can be an effective way to raise donations, whether you’re looking to fund a new editorial format, prepare for a difficult period, or simply launch a media outlet. (Re)discover our practical guide, which will walk you through the process step by step.

In Brief

THAT WAY, YOU'LL KNOW

1. Reporterre, Le 1, Mediapart: These media outlets are hiring. Check out their job openings.

2. Following the release of “Personne n’y comprend rien,” Mediapart is launching a fundraising campaign to finance a new documentary on the far right.

3. What if we explored a city through a feminist lens? Gaze magazine has published its first Feminist City Guide.

4. To mark the release of its first impact report, in partnership with Médianes, La Croix is organizing a morning of meetings and discussions on July 3 in Paris. We’ll be there—how about you?

5. AI-generated summaries in Google search results are set to arrive in France this summer.

See you on Monday!

for the next edition

We’ll be back on Monday with the latest edition of our industry watch newsletter, “Les 10 liens,” and on July 16 with our edition of “Coulisses.” Not yet subscribed to all our publications? Update your preferences so you don’t miss them!

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

This newsletter was prepared by Dorine Planté and Owen Huchon, in collaboration with the team at Médianes.

Médianes

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