Why the Fonds pour une Presse Libre deserves your support?
The objective of the FPL is to contribute to the exercise, the respect and the protection of freedom of information, the pluralism of the press and the independence of journalism amid the major changes to the media landscape brought about by the digital revolution.
The FPL will act to ensure that the digital revolution does not become synonymous with a decline in the plurality of the press and the loss of editorial independence, nor a weakening of the freedom of information. That is why its actions are notably to the benefit of the online press, and that of news gathering and reporting in particular.
Donations to the FPL will help fulfil this mission in the following ways:
- the taking of a minority stake in independent press enterprises which either already exist or are in the planning stage;
- the granting of subsidies or subsidised loans to such enterprises;
- the financial support, through subsidies, of specific, one-off moves made in support of freedom of the press and freedom of information (which can include seminars, training courses, forums, information campaigns, exhibitions, symposiums and conferences);
- the providing of advisory services to an independent press enterprise either free of charge or at cost price;
- the organising of networks for exchanging views on, and in support of, the independent press;
- assistance in the representation of the independent press before the public authorities and administration;
- the support and financing of all types of initiatives of public interest in the field of freedom of opinion, and the development of all types of innovative actions of public interest which have a philanthropic, educational, social or cultural character and which contribute to highlighting the cause of the independence and pluralism of the press;
- the raising of awareness among citizens, public authorities and private actors of the issues surrounding freedom of information and the independence of the press.
What do donations concretely support?
Donations serve in part to help with the FPL’s day-to-day functioning costs, including the salary of one fulltime employee, and most importantly allow the FPL to lead actions in the public interest, which are:
- to support the plurality of the press, and in particular the pluralism of news media outlets;
- to protect the independence of journalism, in particular regarding those media which are controlled by their editorial teams;
- to help press organisations financed only by their audience to find viable economic solutions;
- to support journalistic initiatives;
- to lead campaigns of information or solidarity in face of any eventual threats to press freedom;
- to facilitate, organise and finance meetings, debates and exchanges on the issues of these fundamental freedoms;
- to contribute to the existence of public locations dedicated to the promotion and defence of the right to know and the freedom to say.