The discussions, particularly around “Sustainability Models in the Age of the Digital Revolution,” offered valuable insights into different models that media organisations are adopting to navigate these challenges.

Subscription Models

Carine Fouteau of Mediapart highlighted their model of total reliance on subscriber revenue, forsaking advertising and state subsidies. By focusing on enhancing the reader experience and maintaining transparency about their investigative processes, Mediapart has built a strong trust with its audience.

Donation-Based Models

The Wire, a non-profit organisation, operates strictly on donations due to India’s stringent legal framework. Siddharth Varadarajan, The Wire’s founding editor, emphasised the need for journalistic integrity in a misinformation-ridden environment. This model underlines the significance of maintaining independence and public trust in challenging times.

Rejecting Advertisements

Konstantinos Poulis from ThePressProject shared his approach of eschewing advertising revenue from major corporations and government entities, relying instead on small donations from a community of supporters. This model aims to preserve editorial independence and cater to the underrepresented stories in society. “Unless you pay for the news, somebody else is going to pay and if that’s an oligarch, they obviously won’t have your best interests at heart,” he stressed:

Diversifying Revenue Sources

Alejandra Inzunza Sánchez, director of Dromomanos, an independent production company in Latin America, says they have explored multiple revenue streams. Just like Mediapart, they have delved into options like B2B models to memberships and partnerships, to safeguard against financial uncertainties and maintain independence. These efforts include establishing a non-profit to hold shares and creating a circular business model to support different facets of the media operation.

The discussions underscored the complex landscape of media funding and sustainability, highlighting innovative approaches to overcome financial challenges while upholding journalistic integrity and serving the public interest.

You can view the full discussion below: