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This article was originally published in Médianes' 10 Links newsletter, sent every other Monday at 2 pm. Sign up here (for free).
- MODEL (The Media Review) — While the model of media funded by donations has proven itself, it is not a silver bullet, requiring in particular careful attention to transparency and alignment with values. An approach that also encourages these newsrooms to develop their marketing and community engagement skills.
- EVENT (Medians) — In our newsletters, we regularly suggest events that may interest you. This month, we're launching a calendar bringing together on a single page a multitude of events related to media, publishing, and the independence of these sectors. This calendar will be regularly updated by our team, so don't hesitate to revisit it periodically!
P.S. Would you like to tell us about an event? Contact Marine Slavitch at [email protected]
- AI (Ars Technica) — You know the expression "you can't lick a badger twice"? Of course you don't, because it doesn't exist. It was invented by internet users who discovered that if you ask Google's AI — available directly in the search engine — to explain a completely made-up expression, it will do so without hesitation, even making up sources.
- AI (404 Media) — While fabricating sources to explain made-up expressions may seem trivial, this phenomenon is far more serious in other contexts. A particularly problematic case involves virtual therapies: AIs on Meta platforms go so far as to invent degrees and even license numbers to convince users of their legitimacy to provide care.
- INDEPENDENCE (StreetPress) — Facing common challenges, independent media have every reason to join forces. An issue that has encouraged newsrooms to launch new formats, like the StreetPress podcast which aims to highlight independent media. After a first episode devoted to their position against major media groups, three journalists share accounts of the pressures they face: threats, raids…
P.S. In this article, our journalist Marine Slavitch explains why independent media would benefit from pooling resources and how to go about it.
- SOCIAL MEDIA (New York Times) — Elon Musk committed to making X a haven for free speech when he took it over. But he hadn't specified that this freedom excluded those who would dare to contradict him. By late 2024, three conservative accounts saw their visibility plummet sharply after criticizing Musk, raising questions about the real space given to
- PLATFORMS (Mediacités) — Mediacités has just launched a channel on WhatsApp to distribute its content there. A practice now widespread in the press but which has raised questions among its readers and teams: is this another step toward greater dependence on a major corporation? In this post, the editorial team explains its choice.
- FAR RIGHT (CJR) — Trump's victory owes much to a strategy targeting young men. Behind this idea: Alex Bruesewitz, a central figure in his digital communications. By leveraging influencers from the "manosphere," he orchestrated Trump's participation in their podcasts and streams. An issue that remains key for the White House, which reserves spots for "new media" at its press conferences.
- PODCAST (The Cut) — What if your conversations with your middle school friends were recorded, broadcast on the internet, and preserved forever? An embarrassing nightmare for many, yet it's a real trend: podcasts hosted by young teenagers who dream of becoming the Joe Rogan (hugely popular podcaster and Donald Trump supporter) for the under-16 set, where "debates are more likely to revolve around Double Stuf Oreos than ivermectin or ayahuasca".
- PLATFORMS (New York Times) — Hasan Piker, 33, has become a major figure on Twitch by commenting on current events from a distinctly left-wing perspective. A success that stands out in a field of political commentary on the internet largely dominated by conservatives (with whom he nonetheless shares certain aesthetic codes).
