French publishers have created a media cooperative

Several French publications are joining together in a new cooperative organization, Coop-médias, to deepen collaboration and access funding.

The project, launched on October 9, aims to support independent media and is supported by the French national federation of workers’ cooperatives CG Scop, which sees it as an opportunity to strengthen press freedom and encourage democratic and sustainable economic models in the media industry. .

Members include Blast, Streetpress, Vert, Reporterre, Alternatives économique, Liberación, Le Média and Basta!, all left-leaning publications. Coop-médias has set a goal of raising 3–4 million euros by September 2025, with a long-term desire to have funds of between 15 and 20 million euros to guarantee the independence of its members, allowing them to resist the economic pressure of large groups.

The new organization will also carry out lobbying and awareness-raising functions on behalf of its members. CG Scop has given the project an initial grant of €10,000 to get it off the ground and help its founding members recruit people with the necessary skills to implement it. Apex will also give Coop-média access to its network of co-ops and its expertise in co-ops and fundraising.

Coop-médias will be created as a cooperative society of collective interests (Scic), a kind of multi-stakeholder cooperative. Members will include publications, individuals and small and medium-sized businesses wishing to support the project. Publications that join Coop-médias will benefit from collective funding and a common identity.

“Media such as Politis, Fracas Magazine and Alternatives Économiques, to name just a few, are structured like SCOP,” said Fatima Bellarage, general delegate of CG Scop. “What could be more logical than to support these media in an innovative, neutral and independent way through a joint platform in the form of SCIC, dedicated to their sustainable development?

“The circle is closed! We had to think about it. The Coop-médias team has convinced us that we are true to our values ​​of civic economy and democracy, because the media sector is fragile and needs more sustainable models to promote pluralism and press freedom in our country.”

Jacques Landrieu, President of CG Scop, added: “By supporting Coop-médias, we reaffirm our commitment to a free and independent press and a model of democratic governance. This innovative project promotes economic models that strengthen democracy and diversity of opinion in France.”

Lucy Anison and Robin Saxod, founders of Coop-médias, said: “We are delighted that CG Scop has joined our vision. Introducing new models is not easy, and we are grateful to CG Scop for its financial contribution, as well as the support of its network of companies and numerous resources to expand this initiative, which is just beginning and represents a real future. for the future of press independence in France.”