Don't have any ideas on how to spoil your loved ones this Christmas, but want to support independent media outlets and publishers while finding some great gifts? You've come to the right place.
A Celestial Globe for Daydreamers
Lovers of nostalgic geography, are you familiar with the cartographic treasures in *Reliefs* magazine? Their poster-sized maps are printed on high-quality paper and shipped in attractive sleeves. We’re particularly fond of the celestial planisphere by American cartographer Levi Walter Yaggy—a poetic map that lets you explore the phases of the Moon and the stars visible from the Northern Hemisphere.
Dingues de cartes ? Belleville, le Vercors, Mayotte ou bien Saint-Malo, découvrez les cartes de Pays, la revue que Médianes a cofondée.
A photo book for my wild friends
Every library is in love with them. Fisheye’s contemporary photography books showcase emerging talent and offer a fresh, poetic, and decidedly festive perspective on the world. Among them, we highly recommend Thibault Lévêque’s book *Tchachao*. Bodies, glitter, and journeys fill the pages and captivate the eye.
Want even more photos? And the urge to travel? Check out the first issue of La Revue Écossaise, a publication that’s a cross between a book and a magazine, bringing you stories about Scotland every six months.
A 2023 calendar for coworkers who want to travel
Watch out—they’re selling like hotcakes. Printed in A3 format, the colorful calendars from *Pays* magazine will take you on a journey right from your desk through various regions of France, such as Ouessant, the Gulf of Ajaccio, and the Loire Estuary. Each location is mapped to highlight its terrain, coastlines, and human settlements. It’s the perfect way to start the year off on the right foot.
Want even more calendars? Or maybe just a chance to have a good laugh at the “startup nation”? We highly recommend the calendar from TechTrash, the newsletter that ruffles feathers in the tech world.
Revolutionary reading material for his friends who have resigned
For a socially conscious holiday season, Hors d’atteinte Publishing is offering three book bundles to suit every budget. Among them is the “I’m showering my friends and family with books that will compel them to start a revolution” bundle. A guide to fighting fake left-wing leaders, a history of women who resorted to political violence they deemed necessary, and a manual for reexamining the foundations of collective organization.
Political letters for a single correspondence
Interested in social investigations, ecology, and fiction? Check out what the political and epistolary publication *La Disparition* (yes, you read that right—“epistolary”) has to offer: thought-provoking stories, delivered straight to your inbox.
A cool T-shirt for young revolutionaries
Legend has it that it has the power to deter street harassers. The “Not All Men” T-shirt from the feminist magazine Gaze, created in collaboration with illustrator Ibticem Larbi, will be the perfect gift for your sisters in the struggle. By the way, we have a few more left—would you like some anyway? Check out Gaze’s Xmas Pack to get a magazine and six postcards as well.
Want even more feminist gifts and magazines? We highly recommend the online stores for Censored and La Déferlante magazines. Posters, scarves, stickers, and fascinating magazines to treat yourself or others to.
Iodized blends for gourmet tastes
Îlots magazine, which showcases regional cultures through sustainable gastronomy, is offering a series of gift sets this year that you can choose based on your personal tastes. Each set includes a magazine, a cloth bag, an illustrated recipe, and artisanal spices. Here at Médianes, we’re loving the nautical version.
A toothbrush holder for an organized roommate
Sloft, the magazine for inspiring urban interiors, has its own design shop to support and showcase up-and-coming French designers. To stop mixing up your roommate’s toothbrushes, we’ve found this little Physalie jar made of glazed earthenware. It’s really too cute.
More in the mood for posters, risograph prints, and colorful pins? Check out the Éditions Fidèle or Kiblind Magazine stores!
A food marathon for his awesome friends
This mini-guide is actually your ticket to sampling 30 products from 30 artisanal businesses. Among them: La Meringaie, Merveilleux de Fred, and Terres de Café… A Parisian culinary journey to enjoy at your own pace—whether over the course of a year, a month, or just a single day for those with a big appetite.
Want even more great food? Cheese lovers, wine lovers: check out the two latest delicious issues of Culs-de-Poule magazine.
Engaging stories for enthusiasts
Have you heard of Éditions Divergences? Social criticism, feminist essays, historical narratives… Their colorful covers are just waiting to find a home in your living room. Among their titles, we recommend *Corset de papier*, a history of women’s magazines by Lucie Barette, who holds a Ph.D. in French literature and languages and specializes in 19th-century women writers and journalists.
Rather than buying gifts, do you prefer to give?
As the year comes to a close, many independent media outlets are asking for support for their work by donating directly to their publications. To support news coverage through an environmental lens, you can contribute to the campaigns by Reporterre and Vert. More interested in social justice and coverage of social movements? Help support the growth of Radio Parleur, Basta!, and StreetPress. Investigative journalism and in-depth reporting? Support the work of Splann in Brittany and Disclose. And for those in Normandy, don’t forget Grand-Format!
Editor’s Note: Among the media outlets mentioned, Médianes, the studio, co-founded the magazine *Pays* and has already supported the development (marketing, design, and tech) of La Déferlante and La Disparition; in fundraising campaigns for StreetPress, Vert, and Radio Parleur; through strategic consulting, for Hors d’Atteinte, Culs-de-Poule, Climax (TechTrash), Basta!, La Revue Écossaise and Censored; and in a website redesign, FishEye (redesign of L’Agrandisseur’s website).
