Rethinking media funding

The media are undergoing a multifactorial crisis that is undermining their role in supporting the proper functioning of democracy. On the one hand, public services no longer seem to have all the resources—financial and symbolic—necessary to fulfil their role in the media market. On the other hand, commercial players are encouraged to focus their activities on maximizing resources. Aiming to overcome these dual oppositions, this book brings together contributions exploring a “third way”, an alternative to state and commercial funding: philanthropy. It investigates the conditions for a virtuous form of philanthropic engagement by examining the drivers of a dual legitimacy that of donating to the media and that of receiving donation as a media outlet. Contributors to this book include Sylvain Bourmeau, Nicolas Duvoux, Sylvain Lafrance, Renaud Legoux, Gilles Marchand, Manon Plegat, Patrice Schneider, Nathalie Sonnac, and Nadège Vezinat.