In a recent Consultation the European Commission is gathering information on the current and emerging problems related to media freedom and pluralism. The Commission asks stakeholders to submit evidence and concrete data underpinning the problems identified, and their views on the potential policy approach, options and impacts. As Reference, we submitted the a position paper arguing for – among other things – infrastructural funding of independent media.

Being the head of an independent public interest medium can be quite lonely. Especially when it comes to handling managerial issues in the organisation. At the same time, more and more of these independent outlets have been established throughout Europe in the past years. In order to solve organisational problems that nobody can solve alone, twenty European independent media have decided to join forces in the self-organised exchange network Reference, the European Independent Media Circle.

How the network will function, what the exact offering will be, and how membership can be expanded is currently the focus for the founding group. For the coming two years, Arena for Journalism in Europe will function as an incubator and will support the coordination of Reference.