{"id":13785,"date":"2024-09-17T19:58:17","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T17:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/?page_id=13785"},"modified":"2026-02-25T17:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:06:43","slug":"financial-sustainability-for-the-media","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/our-areas-of-expertise\/financial-sustainability-for-the-media","title":{"rendered":"Financial sustainability for the media"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>Strengthening the sustainability of independent media is a global democracy issue. Media cannot exist without funding. <br><br>On the other hand, too much financial reliance can affect editorial independence.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Obo_emetteur_30.11.2023-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15603\" style=\"width:372px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Obo_emetteur_30.11.2023-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Obo_emetteur_30.11.2023-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Obo_emetteur_30.11.2023-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Obo_emetteur_30.11.2023-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Obo_emetteur_30.11.2023-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Obo_emetteur_30.11.2023-1.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gwenn Dubourthoumieu \/ Fondation Hirondelle \/ Transmitter in Obo, CAR \/ 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the countries where we work, the sustainability of media outlets is linked strongly, but not exclusively, to their financial viability. We have identified the following 4 areas of viability, which we work on in a complementary manner in order to allow media to remain independent and deliver public service over the long term:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Economic viability: diversifying sources of funding in the context of the failure of the media\u2019s business model<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Institutional viability: media ownership, governance and management that guarantee editorial independence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Editorial viability: continuous education for journalists and understanding audience needs in order to better respond to them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Technical viability: sustainable means of production and broadcast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to these challenges, we must address the issues of political commitment to press freedom and independence, and local ownership of media development. For almost 3 decades, Fondation Hirondelle has been supporting independent public service media and contributing to their sustainable development in complex situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><strong>Diversifying sources of funding:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our organisation does not possess its own capital or funds to invest and run the media we create and support. Rather, we work to earn the trust of our partners: governments, co-operation organisations and private foundations. Fondation Hirondelle selects, multiplies and also limits the organisations we rely on for funding, our red line being that financial support must never be linked with editorial control. This is the model we present to our partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We create and support revenue-generating structures and activities in the most fragile countries, making it possible to build a hybrid business model that adheres to charters guaranteeing strict respect for editorial independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year, we struggle to achieve a financial balance. Over our 30 years of activity, several of the media outlets we have created or supported have closed due to lack of funding. At the same time, others have continued to fulfil their mission against the odds. Each experience guaranteed that control over content remained firmly with the editorial team, even while testing a new model to continue learning and looking for solutions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Examples of media projects<br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"989\" height=\"659\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/box-rca-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11934\" style=\"width:357px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/box-rca-4.jpg 989w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/box-rca-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/box-rca-4-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 989px) 100vw, 989px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Central African Republic<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Created in 2012, Central African Republic station Radio Ndeke Luka\u2019s advertising agency offers targeted ad content for private businesses looking to publicise their services and products. In this way, the agency contributes to building a system of resources for Radio Ndeke Luka, as well as to the development of the national economy. In addition, the station provides institutions, the government, and development and humanitarian organisations with a service by producing and broadcasting awareness-raising, educational and discussion programmes about general interest topics (public health, education, transitional justice, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/our-work\/projects\/geographic\/africa\/central-african-republic\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/our-work\/projects\/geographic\/africa\/central-african-republic\">Learn more about the project<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:28% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"7008\" height=\"4672\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/DSC03939-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-23735 size-full\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BRAVE (Benin, Cameroon, Mali)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the BRAVE project, notably implemented in Benin, <strong>a feasibility study was conducted to strengthen the sustainability of media outlets in the country<\/strong>. The study explored the possibility of creating a coalition of sector stakeholders \u2014 including national and local media, advertisers, communication and advertising agencies, and an audience research firm \u2014 to establish regular audience measurement systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its objective was to formulate recommendations <strong>for viable models, particularly to ensure long-term financial sustainability<\/strong> and to foster collective ownership among stakeholders around these audience measurement mechanisms \u2014 an undeniable commercial lever for advertisers and a compass for impact and relevance for media outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/our-work\/projects\/topical\/governance\/active-citizen-participation-programme-tunisia\">Learn more about the project<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 47%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Media Viability Manifesto<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to the economic crisis affecting journalism worldwide, Fondation Hirondelle participated in 2024 in the development of the Media Viability Manifesto, in collaboration with 12 other media development and support organizations. The Media Viability Manifesto provides a common framework that is essential for any joint action aimed at strengthening independent media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The MVM proposes: 1. a common definition of media viability; 2. a shared theory of change for media viability; 3. a typology of existing tools and approaches in the field of media viability. The Media Viability Manifesto thus paves the way for greater conceptual clarity, systematic exchange and learning; more strategic and coordinated collaboration among the various stakeholders; and better harmonized practical implementation in the field of media viability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MV_Manifesto-EN-WEB-20240904-1.pdf\">Download the MVM<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5-1024x483.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-23757 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5-1024x483.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5-768x363.png 768w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5-1000x472.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-5.png 1038w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><br>REFERENCE Documents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2020_Leroy_-Etude-de-capitalisation-perennisation-FH.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2020_Leroy_-Etude-de-capitalisation-perennisation-FH.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Capitalisation study on Fondation Hirondelle Sustainability Activities <\/em>by Michel Leroy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mediation: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/financing-independent-media-a-global-challenge-mediation-n-9-july-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/financing-independent-media-a-global-challenge-mediation-n-9-july-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Financing independent media: a global challenge<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MV_Manifesto-EN-WEB-20240904-1.pdf\">Media Viability Manifesto<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-3 backgroundedBlock--gray h-100 has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Find out more about our research on these topics <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/our-work\/knowledge-sharing\/research-and-learning#openDetail=viabiliteMedias\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">here<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><br>RELATED ARTICLES<\/h3>\n\n\n<div data-truc=\"list69dd142a2d399\" class=\"\"><div class=\"row list\"><div class=\"col-md-3 post d-flex align-items-stretch\"><article id=\"post-21660\" class=\"articleList-item post-21660  post\">\r\n\t<a class=\"post-thumb\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/beyond-messaging-and-debunking-information-integrity-starts-with-local-journalism\" title=\"Beyond messaging and debunking: information integrity starts with local journalism\">\r\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Fondation-Hirondelle_Bangui_radio-Ndekeluka_12.12.2023-9-e1765214733294-500x250.jpg\" class=\"d-block w-100 h-auto wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t<a class=\"post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/beyond-messaging-and-debunking-information-integrity-starts-with-local-journalism\" title=\"Beyond messaging and debunking: information integrity starts with local journalism\" rel=\"bookmark\">\r\n\t\tBeyond messaging and debunking: information integrity starts with local journalism\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/article><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t<div class=\"text-center\">\r\n\t\t<a class=\"btn btn-fh-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/tag\/expertise-financial-sustainability-for-the-media\">See more articles<\/a>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Strengthening the sustainability of independent media is a global democracy issue. Media cannot exist without funding. On the other hand, too much financial reliance can affect editorial independence. In the countries where we work, the sustainability of media outlets is linked strongly, but not exclusively, to their financial viability. We have identified the following 4 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":13624,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-without-column.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13785","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-20 18:04:58","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"translation_priority","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13785"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23761,"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13785\/revisions\/23761"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hirondelle.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}