This marks a first in France. The Fonds pour une Presse Libre (FPL), a French non-profit supporting independent media, and Media Defence have joined forces to create Ripostes – the first and only legal aid fund dedicated to supporting independent press in the country. The fund will become operational on 15 October 2025.
This 50/50 partnership between the two organisations will finance the defence of independent media outlets targeted by clearly abusive or unfounded judicial or administrative proceedings. FPL will contribute €100,000 to the Ripostes fund over the next two years.
“Press freedom is in decline in France, and so-called ‘gag lawsuits’ are one of the main causes,” explains Dorothée Archambault, Director of Development and Programmes at Media Defence. “In recent years, France has ranked fifth among European countries where these manifestly unfounded lawsuits are most frequently used.”
Currently, at least three abusive legal proceedings are targeting the independent media outlets Splann!, Rue89-Lyon, and independent journalist Nils Wilcke.
“We know the consequences of these lawsuits: they intimidate media outlets, drain their resources, discourage investigations, and foster self-censorship,” adds François Bonnet, President of the Fonds pour une Presse Libre. “With the Ripostes fund, our aim is to support proactive legal defences against increasingly aggressive political and economic actors. Fear must change sides.”
To achieve this, the Ripostes fund will offer three types of support to independent media and journalists:
1. Full or partial funding of their defence in proceedings related to their investigations and reporting.
2. Access to lawyers and experts to ensure their defence and protect them from threats.
3. The production and dissemination of practical legal tools and trainings.
Both partners – Media Defence and FPL – will co-finance these initiatives. In practical terms, independent media outlets and journalists can submit their requests for support to Media Defence (apply here) or to the Fonds pour une Presse Libre (charlotte.clavreul@fondspresselibre.org). Applications must include all necessary documents to understand the case (the targeted publications, legal threats received, and relevant judicial or administrative documents).
Each year, a joint financial and activity report will be prepared and made public.
Contacts:
Dorothee Archambault, Director of Development and Programmes at Media Defence communications@mediadefence.org
François Bonnet, President of the FPL
+33 6 77 17 21 67
francoisbonnet@hotmail.fr
Charlotte Clavreul, Executive Director of the FPL
+33 7 63 73 50 70
charlotte.clavreul@fondspresselibre.org
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