Hit or miss?

No. 75 — Hit or Miss?
It’s February 8, 2024, and you’re reading the newsletter from Médianes.

Hello, everyone,

You may have already seen the poster “French Media: Who Owns What?” from *Le Monde diplomatique*. It’s a map that shows how a handful of people control a very large number of media outlets.

Today, we’re offering you a way to fight against corporate concentration on your own terms: SCOPs (cooperative and participatory companies) place employees at the heart of the decision-making process and include them in the distribution of profits. In this newsletter, we’re sharing a few resources to help you understand everything about this model… and maybe even get started?

Also in this issue: a handy guide to finding your business model, billionaires who aren't quite as altruistic as they seem, and, as always, job listings.

Enjoy the read,

— MARINE SLAVITCH, JOURNALIST AT MÉDIANES

Why not?

IDEAS FOR YOUR MEDIA

A Scop is a cooperative and participatory company. It is a business model in which employees hold more than half of the capital and participate in decision-making. In France, media outlets such as Alternatives Économiques, Rue89 Lyon, Fracas and Le Crestois have adopted this model. What does it offer?

Strengthen Financial Stability

In the Scop model, employees are shareholders and have a direct stake in the company’s success. The company’s long-term viability is strengthened by a long-term vision focused on economic and social sustainability rather than quick profits. Since decisions regarding investments, expenditures, and budgets are made collectively, this approach can lead to choices that are better aligned with the media outlet’s actual needs.

Managing Differently

Rather than adopting a traditional hierarchical model, management within a Scop generally follows a flat structure that fosters trust and the sharing of ideas. This approach can foster a sense of belonging and responsibility, where each employee not only contributes to achieving the company’s goals but also helps shape its broad strategic direction.

Ensuring one's independence

SCOPs ensure editorial independence, as decisions made within the media organization will never be dictated by external shareholders. As a result, this model builds trust among readers seeking transparency and can even serve as a selling point, since by supporting a SCOP, readers are choosing a news source free from potential outside interests.

For more information, read the case studies from Alternatives Économiques, Le Crestois, Rue89 Lyon, and Fracas.

From the studio's perspective

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

A few days ago, POLITICO unveiled its new website in Europe. In collaboration with our studio, this redesign was conceived to prepare for the 2024 election year and to support the media outlet’s expansion in Paris, London, and Berlin.

A new design system, streamlined navigation, greater emphasis on podcasts and newsletters, and a cleaner page layout—all of these changes have helped optimize the overall user experience on the website.

You can learn more about the behind-the-scenes details of this redesign in the case study published on the studio's website, and you can check out our work—carried out in collaboration with the teams at POLITICO, Anagram, and 10up—on politico.eu right now.

POLITICO WEBSITE, BENOÎT MICHAËLY — MÉDIANES, THE STUDIO

On Our Radar

OUR MARKET RESEARCH TO SUPPORT YOUR PROJECTS

When Billionaires Change Sides

SARAH JONES / INTELLIGENCER

In 2018, when he acquired the Los Angeles Times, billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong expressed to employees his commitment to quality journalism. Five years later, the newspaper is preparing to lay off 20% of its editorial staff. There will always be a conflict between the financial goals of billionaires and journalism’s public service mission.

A Passion for Paper

RAPHAËLLE ELKRIEF / MARIE CLAIRE

Who said paper is just for old people? As we mentioned recently on TikTok, Kelsey Russell has been sharing her passion for several months now: reading the print edition of The New York Times. More broadly, print media is holding its own, driven by the many publications launched by new generations of journalists. Clearly, there’s a real attachment to it.

Over at medianes.org

IT'S HOMEMADE

Define your business model

THE MÉDIANES TEAM / MEDIANES.ORG

In this practical guide, we invite you to explore business models that rely on revenue generated directly from your audiences. How can you finance your project while remaining true to your target audiences and the values that underpin it? What would they be willing to pay for, and what are their limits?

In Brief

THAT WAY, YOU'LL KNOW

• Le Télégramme, Jeune Afrique, l’AFP : ces médias recrutent. Découvrez leurs offres.

• The science fiction comic magazine *Métal Hurlant* is preparing to release a special issue dedicated to cats.

• Did you like the closing scene? You'll love "On a Roll." The detector of clichéd journalistic phrases is back!

• Numerous examples and practical scenarios to help you create a good FAQ section.

• Media founders? Don’t miss the opening of the call for proposals for our group mentorship program.

• Editor’s Pick: “Toute première fois,” the podcast adaptation of stories about romantic desires collected under the hashtag #WHENIWAS15.

See you on February 22!

Thank you for your messages, which have helped us make this newsletter even better. We’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome the teams from Actu.fr, Les Échos, and Brut, as well as everyone who has recently subscribed.

In the next issue, we’ll share some resources to help you get started in publishing. Does this topic inspire you? Leave us a message!

See you on February 22. Until then, take care of yourselves and your social media accounts.

— THIS NEWSLETTER WAS PREPARED BY MARINE SLAVITCH IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MÉDIANES TEAM.