Undercover

No. 76 — Undercover
It is February 22, 2024, and you are reading the newsletter from Médianes.

Hello, everyone,

La Déferlante, So Press, Le 1, Censored… Many media outlets are branching out into publishing. This trend reflects a reality: relying on a single source of revenue—in this case, its readers—is risky. Diversifying can be a good way to ensure the viability of an independent media outlet while expanding into different formats.

So today, here are a few tips for those of you who are thinking about getting into publishing. As luck would have it, here at [company name]Médianes, we’re about to take the plunge with the upcoming release of our first book: Créer son média. Mark your calendars for the evening of April 2: we’ll be at La Gaîté Lyrique to present the project and celebrate. Click here to join us!

Also in this issue: a passing of the torch, the end of *The Devil Wears Prada*, ordinary letters, and, as always, job listings.

Enjoy the read,

— MARINE SLAVITCH, JOURNALIST AT MÉDIANES

P.S.: What do you think this newsletter might look like in the future? How could it be even more useful to you? Tell us everything—your feedback will be invaluable in helping us move in the right direction.

Why not?

IDEAS FOR YOUR MEDIA

Publishing books—or even starting your own publishing house—validates a media outlet’s expertise while allowing it to develop new sources of revenue. That said, getting started takes time and energy. Here’s our advice on how to avoid stumbling along the way.

Learn more about the industry

The book industry is no El Dorado, especially when you decide to pursue it as an independent publisher. Understanding the intricacies of this industry requires immersing yourself in how it works: to do this, be sure to meet with your peers, ask them about their work, and seek advice on the various stages of book production. Reaching out to the Federation of Independent Publishers can be a good place to start.

Know Your Audience

While being published lends legitimacy, it’s best to gain some experience and take the time to get to know your readership well before taking the plunge. It’s best when the idea comes directly from your audience. If there’s strong demand, the project should be well-received. Above all: your readers will be your best ambassadors. It may be a good idea to test the project with them and offer pre-sales to ensure a certain level of exclusivity.

Focus on graphic design

Be careful not to overlook the book’s design. How your book looks will determine how prominently it’s displayed in bookstores. The right graphic design can also provide valuable clues about the book’s content, helping it better resonate with its target audience. It doesn’t have to be expensive: sometimes, simply choosing the right typeface is enough to make a difference. To refine your aesthetic sense, be sure to draw inspiration from graphic design.

To learn more, read Emmanuelle Josse’s account—she is the co-founder of La Déferlante—about the launch of the publishing house behind the book.

From the studio's perspective

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

We have just opened applications for the ProgramMédianes. You have until March 3, 2024, to apply!

This program aims to provide media founders with the analytical frameworks, methods, and tools they need to develop their projects based on viable, sustainable business models—and to take their ventures to the next level. It is designed for anyone with an independent, socially conscious media project, whether it is still in the idea stage or was launched within the last five years.

The program Médianeshas been designed to be compatible with both professional and personal life. It offers nine months of support, beginning in April 2024, divided into three months of group training followed by six months of individual follow-up, as well as a post-program evaluation twelve months after the program begins.

To learn more, visit our website.

CHRISTELLE PERRIN — MÉDIANES, THE STUDIO

On Our Radar

OUR MARKET RESEARCH TO SUPPORT YOUR PROJECTS

Pass the torch

MARJOLAINE KOCH / SENSITIVE ISSUES

As Edwy Plenel, co-founder of Mediapart, prepares to step down as the newspaper’s president, the show *Affaires Sensibles* takes a deep dive into the origins of this investigative news site that no one believed in at first. And to understand how Mediapart is preparing for this transition, you can listen to this episode of our podcast *Chemins* featuring Cécile Sourd, the organization’s CEO.

A Shift in Trend

ASHLEY FETTERS MALOY / WASHINGTON POST

Gone are the days of *The Devil Wears Prada*. The new generation of fashion journalists prioritizes accessibility, inclusivity, and interaction with the community. “When I think back to the magazines from my teenage years, I feel like they fostered a real dialogue. Then they just started telling people what was cool and what to wear. The publications people identify with today are more community-oriented.”

Over at medianes.org

IT'S HOMEMADE

Diversify your income

THE MÉDIANES TEAM / MEDIANES.ORG

This practical guide provides a non-exhaustive overview of the diversification strategies seen in the media industry. The goal is to help you avoid relying on a single source of revenue. There are many options available: restructuring your media company, developing derivative products, or offering new services.

In Brief

THAT WAY, YOU'LL KNOW

• Numerama, Revue Far Ouest, Politis : ces médias recrutent. Découvrez leurs offres.

• The feminist magazine *La Déferlante*—in collaboration with Médianes— has published its latest issue: “Abortion: A Never-Ending Struggle.”

• Chaumont, a city known for graphic design, is adopting a new visual identity, creating its own typeface—which is available for free—and designing a graphic experience tailored to the city.

• On April 13, Divergences Publishing will open its own location in Quimperlé, in Brittany, featuring a bookstore, a post office, a café, and offices.

• This tool, discovered by our colleagues at Censored, lets you create a video of a book spinning. It’s a clever way to promote their print products.

• Editor's Pick: Ordinary Letters. This book is a collection of “letters that were misaddressed or deliberately sent to imaginary addresses.”

See you on March 7!

Thank you for your messages, which have helped us enrich this newsletter. We’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome the teams at Challenges, Reporterre, and Le Monde, as well as everyone who has recently subscribed.

In the next issue, we’ll explore why women who self-publish their work are challenging the patriarchal structures of the traditional publishing industry. Does this topic inspire you? Leave us a message!

See you on March 7. Until then, take care of yourselves and your social media accounts.

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