Author: Fie Sennels
Videographer / Editor: Angelina Petrova
Uncertainty for the Future
What will Médiapi look like in ten years? Laura Guernalec, one of its journalists, isn’t sure. “I don’t know. It’s the same question I ask myself every day: can we keep going?” Despite Médiapi’s growth, she feels its foundations remain fragile. “The pillars aren’t built strong, and one day, they might collapse,” she reflects. While the platform has made significant progress, its long-term future remains uncertain.
To stay relevant, Médiapi must evolve alongside the younger generation of Deaf people. Instead of expecting them to adapt to traditional formats, Médiapi must innovate. Vertical reels are more engaging than horizontal videos, and the demand for high-quality, professional content in Sign Languages is greater than ever. Deaf people frequently miss out on critical information due to inaccurate captions or delayed translations—a gap Médiapi is determined to bridge.
Médiapi’s journey has been slow but steady. Estelle Arnoux recalls that, in the beginning, people were impatient, eager for more content at a faster pace. As the team expanded, progress became more visible. Looking ahead, Estelle envisions Médiapi’s future as an extension of the present, but with key improvements. One priority is reviving in-person lectures to raise awareness about Médiapi’s mission and subscription model—a strategy that Noemi Churlet successfully used years ago when she campaigned for community support across France.
For Noemi, Médiapi’s future is about more than journalism—it’s about the collective strength of the Deaf community. “We need to fight as a group, not alone,” she asserts. The closure of Websourd was a painful reminder of how vulnerable Deaf media can be. Médiapi is working toward a stronger, more united Deaf community, ready to defend its rights and ensure the survival of accessible news.
History and Culture of the Deaf Community
During a visit to the Church of Saint-Roch and the Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris, Angelina Petrova reflected on the historical significance of the first public school for Deaf students, founded by Abbé de l’Épée. His work laid the foundation for French Sign Language (LSF), but the Milan Congress of 1880, which pushed for oralism over sign language, left lasting consequences that still impact the Deaf community today.
A turning point came in the 1970s with the rise of Deaf activism, sign language research, and the establishment of the International Visual Theater (IVT). Now, Médiapi is part of this ongoing journey, carrying forward the fight for visibility, accessibility, and representation.
Recently, Angelina and I attended two cultural events: a film screening about a Deaf man’s life story, told entirely in LSF, and a bilingual theater production for children, featuring both Deaf and hearing performers. These experiences were deeply inspiring, reinforcing the idea that Deaf culture is the foundation of Deaf journalism in France.
Médiapi is more than a news platform—it is part of a larger cultural movement, preserving history, shaping the present, and influencing the future of Deaf journalism.