Author: Fie Sennels
Videographer / Editor: Angelina Petrova

Reflections from the Paris Trip

As our time in Paris comes to an end, the Taubenschlag team—Angelina and I—head home with a wealth of reflections. Our journey was filled with insightful encounters, from engaging with Médiapi and its team to immersing ourselves in the vibrant Deaf cultural scene of Paris.

What did we take away from this experience? We gained a deeper understanding of the Deaf communities in Paris—their theatre, performances, and the central role of deaf history in shaping Médiapi. Without these core elements, could Médiapi even exist? This question lingers with us now more than ever. And beyond that—if Médiapi didn’t exist, where would Deaf journalists be today?

Throughout our visit, we reflected on Médiapi’s financing model, its history, and the challenges it has overcome. We compared this with the evolution of Taubenschlag in Germany, run by manua, examining how Deaf media across Europe take different forms. This diversity is something to celebrate—it creates opportunities to connect, share, and learn from one another.

The lessons we’ve learned from Médiapi and Paris will shape our path forward. We are excited to see how Deaf journalism, the DJE project, and its influence continue to grow across Europe. This experience has only strengthened our commitment to building a stronger, more interconnected Deaf media community.

If you’ve followed our journey through the first four reels, you’ve explored Médiapi’s origins, its triumphs, and the rich Deaf culture of Paris. We hope this journey has sparked new ideas for you as well. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Until next time!