Trip to Nantes

No. 66 — A Trip to Nantes
It is September 28, 2023, and you are reading the newsletter from Médianes.

Hello there,

There’s just no stopping them! Having barely returned from a trip to Marseille, Baptiste and Marine, the co-founders of [name], are now headingMédianes full speed toward Nantes for the Local News Festival.

Marine Doux will be leading a discussion on local media newsletters alongside our colleagues from Marsactu, Nice-Matin, and Actu.fr. Will you be there, too? Feel free to leave us a quick message.

If you haven't seen it yet, you'll find a brief roundup of the best tips from these local media outlets in this newsletter. And in our roundup: pop stars, puppies, a favorite spot in Lorraine, and job listings, of course.

Enjoy the read,

— MARINE SLAVITCH, JOURNALIST AT MÉDIANES

Why not?

IDEAS FOR YOUR MEDIA

Editorial newsletters are a valuable tool for (re)engaging your audience, reaching new target audiences, or encouraging subscriptions. How can local media outlets make the most of them? Here are three formats for building a special connection with your audience and establishing trust.

Spotlight

At Nice-Matin, we've adopted an approach focused on service and strengthening direct connections with readers through three hyperlocal newsletters centered on the cities of Fréjus and Saint Raphaël, Antibes, and Cannes. Our approach? Like a friend writing to share their weekend plans, complete with unusual stories and insider tips. A valuable channel for reaching new audiences and rebuilding trust by taking a long-term perspective.

Variations on the Same Theme

At Actu.fr, the strategy focuses instead on launching themed newsletters. The idea is to use local topics as a starting point to shed light on national news. In this issue dedicated to the ocean, the newsletter begins with a general report on the end of financial support for fishermen to purchase diesel fuel. It then gradually shifts from one local area to another, highlighting reports by its journalists along the French coastline.

In the first person

The secret is to really bring it to life. At Marsactu, the “Pointue!” news newsletter—exclusive to subscribers—kicks off with an editorial by journalist Lisa Castelly. This immersive approach creates a warm and authentic connection with readers, inviting them to take a look behind the scenes of current events. In this issue, for example, the editorial team explains the process of writing a series on the racist crimes of 1973 in Marseille, the challenges faced by journalists, and Marsactu’s role in recounting this complex past.

From the studio's perspective

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Since 2022, we have been supporting the teams at Arrêt sur images in transforming their media organization through long-term work on marketing, finance, and human resources.

Development of a subscription strategy, support in hiring a communications and marketing manager, strategic and financial consulting on growth, new editorial products: You can learn more about a real-world example of our support on our studio’s website.

As the new school year begins, we are especially proud to be supporting the team in its new subscription campaign.

MÉDIANES, THE STUDIO / FREEZE FRAME

On Our Radar

OUR MARKET RESEARCH TO SUPPORT YOUR PROJECTS

Squeezie everywhere, no girls anywhere

KLARA DURAND / LE FIGARO

A double record for the GP Explorer! The second edition of the Formula 4 race among video creators—organized by Squeezie and streamed live on Twitch—saw view counts skyrocket… along with instances of sexist harassment. Between a lack of preventive measures and the organizers’ fear of causing controversy, here’s an article to help you understand the “boys’ club” of the internet.

Taylor Swift: A Minefield

NATE SILVER / SILVER BULLETIN

They might as well have burned the Munich Agreement and danced around its ashes—it would have had the same effect. Two American newspapers announced they were hiring journalists to cover the cultural impact of pop stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Since then, it’s been a disaster. How about taking a step back?

Over at medianes.org

IT'S HOMEMADE

Designing Your Newsletter

MÉDIANES TEAM / MÉDIANES.ORG

Objectives, formats, distribution… We’re publishing a new practical guide, this time focused on newsletters. Through a series of examples and practical scenarios, this guide will help you think through how to create, launch, or optimize your newsletter.

In Brief

THAT WAY, YOU'LL KNOW

• Courrier international, Mediapart, L’Obs: These media outlets are hiring. Check out their job openings.

• Here, you'll find plenty of resources to improve journalists' mental health and change the often-toxic cultures in the media industry.

• 50 Portraits of Lesbians: La Déferlante (in collaboration with the studioMédianes) is publishing *Et l’amour aussi* by Marie Docher.

• The latest issue of OTOMO magazine is dedicated to Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli. Hurry and pick up a copy.

• Eyes on the truffles: that’s the experience offered by this magnificent geometric canine compendium published by B42.

• Editor’s Pick: The student magazine *Première Pluie* has released its seventh issue. It’s cultural, it’s poetic, and it’s all about Lorraine. Everything we love.

See you on October 12!

We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome the teams at So Press, Veìr Magazine, and Le Taurillon, as well as everyone who has recently subscribed to this newsletter.

Thank you for your messages and ideas, which helped shape this edition of the newsletter. We look forward to seeing you today and tomorrow in Nantes!

See you on October 12 for the next edition. Until then, take care of yourselves and your media.

— THIS NEWSLETTER WAS PREPARED BY MARINE SLAVITCH AND MARINE DOUX WITH THE MÉDIANES TEAM.