FRICTIONS, the media that tells the world through intimacy

For nearly four years, FRICTIONS has explored, through literature and podcasts, major social issues from which news topics and conversations spring forth. Our idea is simple: to publish stories from authors—whether it be a personal account or on a local or more global scale— that shine a light on social and political issues we are confronted with. When concerns converge and perceptions diverge: that’s the point of friction. In the face of temptation to turn in on oneself and the clash of narratives, FRICTIONS captures the singularity of individual experiences, but also what binds them together. To create convergence. While confronting the temptation of isolationism and the clash of narratives, FRICTIONS takes into account both the uniqueness of individual experience and the ties that bind them, aiming to foster connections. Our frictions: expanding viewpoints to gain deeper insight into reality In a world inundated with bite-sized, video-driven content adapted for social media consumption, FRICTIONS breaks the mold by embracing narrative and long-form storytelling, with articles up to 10,000 characters in length and immersive podcasts. At the heart of our editorial proposition lie are our frictions: series that explore compelling themes through both narratives and podcasts. "All identities combined" delves into the intricate layers of identity, revealing their most intimate and inherently political dimensions. "9 to 5 the time of your life" examines our relationships with work at a time when the new generation is entering the workforce, often with a different set of expectations. "Love Better" explores how societal, political (and even geopolitical) dynamics, alongside emerging technologies, have woven themselves into the fabric of romantic relationships. "After the revolution, now what?" examines the ramifications of worldwide protest movements, ranging from the demonstrations in Lebanon following the Beirut explosion to the impacts of protests against high school dress codes on feminism, as well as significant ongoing social upheavals like PMA. "Group Therapy" tackles mental health, a vital topic following the global health crises and lockdown periods. "Truth in fiction" are fictional narratives based on investigations and testimonies, each short story contributing to a bigger picture and sharpening our perspectives on the world and our times. In other words: the literature of reality. Diverse, sometimes diverging voices that explore the intimate fabric of our societies. FRICTIONS above all shines the spotlight on journalists, authors and podcast creators based in France and abroad, each one of them with backgrounds as diverse as the stories that they tell. Laura Taouchanov, Maud Fellbom, Jean-Baptiste Phou, Diadié Dembélé, Joy Majdalani, Eva Tapiero, Laure Delacloche, Jamila Bensaci, Lola Berthet, Karim Madani, TJ Benson, Luiza Fazio, Pamela Rahn Sanchez, Vivian Lofiego, Ryad Maouche, Karim Madani, Vivan Lofiego, Maud Le Rest, Clarisse Gorokhoff, Hajar Chokairi Azell, Dorian Masson, Anne Cauvel de Beauvillé, Rizlaine Sellika, Moussa Diop, Charles Cohen, Constant Léon, Florian Dacheux, Walid Hajar Rachedi... Since its launch, Frictions has engaged more than 80 contributors based in +15 countries in this captivating exploration of society’s inner workings. At FRICTIONS, we believe that our stories have the power to break through cultural and linguistic barriers. Additionally, all of our literature and certain podcasts are available in both French and English, as well as in the native language of each author. The founders and supporters behind this project Walid Hajar Rachedi, Publication Director and Editor in Chief, Ryad Maouche: two brothers (one an author and seasoned digital professional, the other a journalist specializing in innovative formatting) with a shared passion for stories. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, stories allow us to connect with worlds apart from our own and deepen our understanding of the reality of our societies from the inside out. Artificial storytelling and attention-grabbing are not the focus here. Walid and Ryad both maintain that the possibilities offered by digital media have the power to enhance how stories are told, to reach a broader audience, and to breathe life into recurring narratives. _ FRICTIONS was a finalist in the Paris Podcast Festival (the Fiction category in 2020 and the Conversation category in 2021) and finished on Télérama’s 10 Best Podcast of 2022 with the documentary entitled “ My friend called Anorexia” directed by Lola Bertet. Since its origins, FRICTIONS has benefited from the support of incubation programs such as Mediastart (of Paris&CO) and La Ruche. FRICTIONS was also endorsed by Creatis and is supported in its initiatives by SPILL, of which it is a member. Additionally, FRICTIONS was awarded the Emerging Grant by the French Ministry of Culture. The two following podcast series were produced with help from our partners: "Revealing,” co-produced with the L'Oréal Fund for Women, and "A Studio On The Atlantic" in collaboration with University Paris 8 and the University of Iowa, with funding from the United States Embassy in France, the Villa Albertine Foundation, and the ArTeC University Research School. To conclude, our studio has assisted in the creation of podcasts and editorial concept development, and has conducted training sessions for institutions and companies such as Air Liquide, Groupama, the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, L’Oréal, and ESSEC.