Without artifice

No. 68 — No Frills
It is October 26, 2023, and you are reading the newsletter from Médianes.

Hello there,

An unpopular opinion: I love listening to journalists talk. Not their opinions on current events, but the way they go about their work. When I listen to a radio report, I always wonder: How did she manage to put that person at ease enough? How did she introduce herself to them? How did she get them to say that?

What interests me is what’s going on around them. It’s the narrator’s perspective—what he or she perceives and feels before, during, and after the encounter. I find that this makes journalists seem more human; I’m sometimes able to better understand their choices and their tone. And to trust them, of course.

Today, we're going to talk about the media outlets that build connections with their audiences by sharing the little things that are part of their everyday lives.

Also in this issue: a roundup of wartime news, a new campaign for StreetPress, a tutorial on how to turn your magazine into a mushroom, an investigation into the color purple, and, of course, job listings.

Enjoy the read,

— MARINE SLAVITCH, JOURNALIST AT MÉDIANES

Why not?

IDEAS FOR YOUR MEDIA

It’s not enough to simply want to explain how journalists work and how a media outlet operates—you also need to have an idea of which format to use. From Instagram channels to Twitch Q&As, it’s up to you to choose the one that best fits your media outlet’s identity. Or why not come up with some new ones? We’d love to hear your ideas.

Privacy

On Instagram, broadcast channels let you start a private conversation with members of your community and send them messages whenever you like. Mosaïque, a magazine specializing in rap, uses this feature to document the process of creating a print publication. Sometimes, the artists featured on the cover of each issue even take the opportunity to leave short, personalized voice messages. It’s more spontaneous and less complicated to set up than a Story.

Friendliness

At Arrêt sur images, they give a behind-the-scenes look at the newsroom by gathering around a table for happy hour—and you’d almost feel like you were right there with them. Their monthly FAQ on Twitch gives journalists the chance to answer all kinds of questions about their work, and managers the opportunity to explain how recruitment, the development of new formats, and relationships with freelancers work… It’s as transparent as it gets.

Effectiveness

How is a morning news show prepared, from the editorial meeting to going on the air? In this immersive video format, franceinfo gives its readers a glimpse into the various departments and roles within the newsroom—from morning show hosts to field reporters, including those who work at the news desk. Even though they’re only two minutes long, these videos take the time to show the quiet moments, far removed from the clichés of a newsroom in constant turmoil.

Want to learn more? Check out the full version of this article on our website.

From the studio's perspective

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

We’ve seen them launch their FAF newsletter, which analyzes the far right, and the second season of *Rixes*, dedicated to urban gang wars, and we’ve been working with the team since 2021 to develop a donation-based editorial and business model.

This fall, StreetPress reached out to us to support them in a brand-new mission as they continue their fight against the far right by launching a participatory investigation to document it. The media outlet is calling on its community to help fund this unprecedented project.

MÉDIANES, THE STUDIO / STREETPRESS

On Our Radar

OUR MARKET RESEARCH TO SUPPORT YOUR PROJECTS

The last wheel on the wagon

OP-ED / MEDIAPART BLOG

170 foreign correspondents are sounding the alarm about their precarious working conditions. Some are still paid as independent contractors, without social security or maternity leave. These professionals are calling on the government to guarantee them social benefits to ensure they can continue to do their jobs.

Eat me! Eat me!

SLANTED PUBLISHERS / INSTAGRAM

It’s possible to turn your magazines… into mushrooms! The German publisher Slanted Publishers tried this experiment with an old phone book. We’ve learned that not only do oyster mushrooms love paper, but they’re also known for removing contaminants from soil and wastewater.

Over at medianes.org

IT'S HOMEMADE

Overview: covering the news in wartime

OWEN HUCHON / MEDIANES.ORG

Violence, misinformation… the very nature of war calls for the media to adopt a nuanced approach, whether to better serve their audiences or to ensure the well-being of their staff. Format, approach, tone, working conditions, tools: an overview of best practices.

In Brief

THAT WAY, YOU'LL KNOW

• mūsae, Context, HugoDécrypte: These media outlets are hiring. Check out their job openings.

• The eco-friendly fanzine *Climax*—in collaboration with the studioMédianes—is releasing a new issue, and it’s already making our hearts race.

• On November 11, Libération will set up shop at the Cité de la Musique for a 24-hour festival. What’s on the program? Behind-the-scenes looks, panel discussions, and concerts.

• Cross-posting, profile verification, using lists… The social network Bluesky shares its guide for journalists.

• Our Pick: How did purple become pop culture's favorite color? A fascinating investigation we found in Nylon.

See you on November 9!

We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome the teams at Que Choisir and Ouest-France, the Marseille-based collective Presse-Papiers, and everyone who has recently subscribed to this newsletter.

Thank you for your messages and ideas, which have helped shape this newsletter. In the next issue, we’ll talk about the art of choosing paper—for a magazine or a publishing house—(before turning it into a mushroom, that is). Does this topic inspire you? Leave us a message to discuss it!

See you on November 9 for the next edition. Until then, take care of yourselves and your social media.

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