Where we went from there

by Serge Halimi
A year ago we appealed to our readers (“Where do we go from here?”, Le Monde diplomatique, October 2009). We told you about our financial situation and our projects, and asked you to take out subscriptions or buy Le Monde diplomatique regularly at the newsstand. Independent information is in the public interest, but most of its costs are met by our readers and subscribers. Without you,– we cannot assure the existence and development of Le Monde diplomatique.Our appeal was heard: 1,648 readers donated €164,321 between October and December 2009. Since the beginning of this year, our circulation has remained steady (+0.4%) despite the increase in our price and subscription rates, - rare in today’s French press. After a deficit over several years, the French parent edition hopes to balance its books in 2010.Your mobilisation ended the threat to Le Monde diplomatique. This is quite an achievement since the state of print media is worsening; the number of papers free from the influence of industrial, financial or advertising corporations is shrinking dramatically, and even Le Monde is changing hands. Your response confirms our choices and shows us the way ahead. It also strengthens our statutory guarantees: our director is elected by Le Monde diplomatique’s entire staff; we hold almost half its capital (49%) together with the Friends of LMD; we have a legal status that is distinct from the group’s other titles.A year ago we pledged that any sums received would be used not to plug holes (such as the drop in advertising revenues), but to sustain objectives that match our editorial values: lower sales prices in poorer countries; help for some new international editions (Hungarian and Kurdish editions) or preferential rates (Peru, Armenia, South Korea); and digitising every issue back to our foundation in 1954, so our archives will not be preserved just for a few libraries but will soon be available to readers. Your donations have allowed us to commission more, often costly, in-depth reports on conflicts, and alternatives to an economic and social system that seems to profit from the crises that it provokes.In 2010 we set aside €82,000 to reduce our rates in the developing world; €83,000 to help our international editions launch or continue; €54,000 to digitise and index Le Monde diplomatique; €63,000 to cover exceptional investigative and reporting costs. The total (€282,000) is higher than the donations received, so we drew from a small sum put aside for development.We know that we ask more of our readers than is usual in an industry that can hand out watches, televisions, stereos, and cut-price subscriptions to lure its clients. But our gifts to you are our independence, our unique position and our editorial choices.Compare our modest means of promotion and development with other titles that have made no effort to resist the spirit of the times. On 17 March, a €20m campaign tried to re-launch France Soir, owned by Russian oligarch Alexander Pugachev. Six months later the daily Les Echos, owned by the richest man in France, Bernard Arnault, devoted €6m to a poster and radio campaign to publicise its “new formula” (more bright colours than its predecessor). Compared with the rest of the press, we use our means – your means – wisely.Our campaign continues, because the targets reached in 2010 need to be renewed and expanded. That is why we ask again for your support in defending and developing journalism that is critical and curious about the world, independent of political and financial powers. Please go on subscribing and get your friends to subscribe or make a donation before the end of the year. We’re counting on you.The English edition that you are reading also exists in internet and digital forms (many people find these convenient and inexpensive alternatives to the print edition).Like print subscriptions to LMD, the internet edition also offers full access to our unique 12-year archive (the digital edition, which is a facsimile reproduction of the printed pages, offers two years).LMD’s archive has made the English edition a popular choice for institutions: think tanks, universities, libraries, NGOs, IGOs, government departments etc subscribe to LMD’s IP internet edition, which can be accessed at multiple sites throughout their institution.We have recently redesigned our English website. And although we count on you to make LMD’s existence possible by subscribing to one of our editions, we want to make our content available as widely as we are able. Here you will find some articles open access each month, and going back throughout our 12 years of archives.You will also discover Diplomatic Channels, our new interactive open zone, which carries a growing number of exclusive blogposts, unrivalled maps, photographs from around the world, and podcast interviews with our authors. As Serge Halimi writes, we want you all to enjoy the ride, but it is you, our subscribers, who make that possible.