Caught between democratic urgency and precarious business models, the 8th edition of the Parisian festival painted an unvarnished portrait this January 15th of a sector standing at a crossroads.
Paris, January 15, 2026. A particular atmosphere—almost grave—reigned in the corridors of the Maison de la Radio and the headquarters of Les Échos–Le Parisien. Far from a simple social gathering, this 8th edition of “Médias en Seine” took on the appearance of an emergency summit on the state of information. Since dawn, the dense crowd pressing against the security gates wasn’t just there to see headliners; they were looking for answers. In a world where the line between true and false is increasingly blurred, the public demonstrated a tangible thirst: a need to understand the mechanics of news before the election year spirals out of control.
The Moment of Truth for Information Sovereignty
On stage, the tone was far from self-congratulatory. Opening the event alongside Anne Le Hénanff, Minister Delegate for AI and Digital Affairs, the CEOs of Radio France and the Les Échos–Le Parisien group laid out a lucid diagnosis.
Sybille Veil, CEO of Radio France, immediately dispensed with pleasantries. Facing the deadline of two major election years, she described the “vertigo” felt by newsrooms: how to remain a reliable lighthouse when the storm of disinformation is blowing harder than ever? For her, the stakes go beyond journalism; it is about providing citizens with a “compass” in the informational fog.
But the battle is not just ideological; it is financial. This was the striking message delivered by the leadership of Les Échos–Le Parisien, an angle that resonates particularly well with economic observers. “Editorial sovereignty” is wishful thinking without “economic sovereignty.” With traditional models battered by the erosion of advertising revenue and value capture by tech giants, the question of the financial survival of independent media is now center stage. We are no longer speaking solely of press freedom, but of “cognitive sovereignty”: do we still possess the means—financial and intellectual—to form our own opinions in the face of algorithms?
AI, Climate, and New Fractures
Under the banner “New Worlds, New Powers,” the debates quickly moved from theory to hard reality. The question was no longer if Artificial Intelligence would change the game, but how to regulate it before it devours content production entirely.
Discussions navigated through the crises shaking our era. From media coverage of the climate emergency—often deemed anxiety-inducing or insufficient—to information management during health crises, speakers depicted a media landscape in permanent reconstruction. The dominance of streaming platforms and hyper-distribution were also at the heart of the exchanges, highlighting the difficulty for traditional media to remain audible to younger generations without losing their soul.
Behind the Scenes: Rebuilding Trust
What undoubtedly made this edition more human were the masterclasses. Far from grand theories, journalists from Franceinfo, the INA (National Audiovisual Institute), and France Médias Monde lifted the hood on their trade. Facing a curious and sometimes wary audience, they revealed the invisible work: the tedious fact-checking, the ethical dilemmas, and the pressure of time.
These moments of direct exchange served as a reminder of a simple truth: behind every article and every report, there are humans attempting to decipher a complex world.
As the doors closed on Médias en Seine 2026, the impression left was one of contrast. It revealed a profession lucid about its economic fragilities yet conscious of its historic responsibility. Information has become a double-edged sword, capable of enlightening as well as manipulating. While the festival posed the right questions regarding the future of connected democracy, it is now up to the sector’s players—both public and private—to provide concrete answers before the next storm hits.