By Misa LoExpert financier.
Content syndication, mergers and acquisitions, or alternative finance such as crowdfunding, factoring, equity investments, minibonds, etc. There are plenty of strategies available to Senegalese press groups to overcome this crisisThis column features expert Misa Lo’s opinions.
Fourth force, the crisis experienced by the Senegalese press can be one of the precursors of a possible deep economic crisis. One should not overestimate the weight and influence of these actors on the perception of economic actors about a country’s image.
The current leaders should take this subject very seriously and help these press groups to emerge from this crisis immediately. In terms of behavioral finance, investors are not always rational, they do not always control themselves because they follow certain biases. We are talking here about cognitive biases that determine investors’ choices. These are some psychological biases that will affect the financial behavior of local and foreign investors, if and only if this economic crisis, which the media is going through, persists. To get out of the crisis quickly, financial strategies are necessary such as: mergers between press groups or the acquisition of some press organs by other groups, opening up capital to other investors.
This synergy of forces and investment of capital may be necessary to reduce finance charges, restructure debt, or even stabilize operations.
In short, since the economic and financial crisis of 2008, alternative finance as a financing process and tools has been added to the financing techniques and tools. As a type of alternative finance, we can cite crowdfunding, factoring, capital investments, minibonds, etc. As an example, the “Diaspora Bonds” operation was a great success, and it allowed BHS Bank to raise almost 15 billion FCFA from Senegalese abroad. A minibond strategy launched by large groups such as GFM or e-Media can also be successful if the Senegalese diaspora is involved.
In the current economic context, content syndication strategies may be another option for press groups to bring together the financial resources, expertise and support needed to overcome these difficulties, recover and prosper in the future.
This will include offering a rich, reliable and secure product for those who are looking for reliable and useful information. For example, no one will doubt the information or content coming out of the merger of Future Media Group and e-Media knowing the quality and professionalism of the journalists working there.
Content syndication in the current context implies the cooperation of several media outlets that are currently in difficulty and going through an economic crisis. It makes it possible to bring together the means and tools used by each press organ, thereby reducing the risks for each partner.
In short, in terms of expertise, content syndication partners bring a variety of expertise and experience that can help transform the product being presented and popular.
We have M. Lo
Expert Financier
Marketplace Finance Advisor
Founder of the think tank Millennium African Institute, Nations and Democracy