Launched on April 22, 2024, Earth Day, at the initiative of the French solutions media Marcelle, 22-med succeeded in just over two years in bringing together a team of committed journalists from the Mediterranean countries. The challenge was ambitious: to tell the story of the Mediterranean from its territories, to cross perspectives from its different shores, and to make these contents accessible in the languages of those who live there.
This editorial challenge found its audience. In June 2026, 22-med gathered 233,000 readers, including 157,000 in France. But also 19,000 in Spain, Morocco, and Algeria; 16,000 in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Tunisia; 13,000 in Lebanon, Israel, and Gibraltar; 12,000 in Egypt, Malta, and Slovenia; 11,500 in Croatia. Not to mention readers in Albania, Bosnia, Syria, Montenegro, Palestine, or Libya.
This audience confirms the interest in an independent trans-Mediterranean media. But finding its audience is not enough to sustain a media.
The revenues and support, particularly institutional, did not follow. Our model specifically anticipated subscriptions from embassies, consulates, and French Alliances, at 30 euros per month per entity. A modest commitment that, if sufficiently shared, would have ensured the viability of 22-med and sustainably paid its international editorial team based on the salaries of the French collective agreement.
This is not the case today.
22-med is therefore going into pause mode
However, it remains part of the European project AWARE-SEA, alongside scientists and economists working to anticipate the consequences of climate disruptions on Mediterranean societies. We are currently awaiting the European decision on its funding. Its allocation would be a welcome opportunity for 22-med.
In the meantime, the work done remains accessible to all. Our library of 530 articles, available in 11 languages, represents nearly 5,800 publications in open access.
Finally, a huge thank you to our readers and, particularly, to our subscribers. Their support has allowed us to generate significant revenue and demonstrate that there is an audience for this original Mediterranean information. Unfortunately, it remains insufficient to sustain an international media of this scale.
The adventure may not be over (we would love to continue). 22-med is therefore going into pause mode, but its library remains open.