Do you want to know how we can truly monetise independent journalism’s value for society? Join Reference’s panel at the 2023 Perugia Journalism Festival!

With Sofia da Palma Rodrigues (Divergente), Jan-Willem Sanders (Follow the Money), Peter Matjašič (Investigate Europe) and moderated by Sanne Schim van der Loeff (Arena for Journalism in Europe).

It’s hard for the new public-interest, not-for-profit journalism sector in Europe to be financially sustainable. On the one hand, they operate in the realm of public service outlets – serving citizens and its members – while on the other, they are part of a competitive market – serving consumers. Each domain requires different metrics to prove their added value: funders are asking for impact and impact measurement; but where direct value in the market is concerned, sponsors and donors are keen on audience size as the main indicator for success.

Of course there are various routes that might lead to an answer. In our panel, the Reference members Divergente, Follow the Money and Investigate Europe share their experiences and challenges, and discuss what lessons can be learnt to collectively bring the public-interest sector forward.

In May 2022, the Reference circle got together in Mechelen, Belgium, together with a few Civitates grantees. In a session, the participants discussed the challenges they face in Human Resource management. In three rounds they exchanged best practices, tips and questions in small groups on the following questions:

1. How to combine finite projects with activities that need to be carried out year-round ?
2. How to find and train the best editorial ánd non-editorial people?
3. How to keep your staff happy and healthy?

Throughout, the participants encouraged each other to take the non-editorial seriously and to scale up early: “Dare to take that step and give serious attention to the non-editorial tasks at hand. Think a little bigger and you will grow from there.” At the same time, it is essential to connect these non-editorials with the rest of the team: “Educate all staff about each other’s responsibilities and contributions to the bigger cause. Respect the professions by expressing their added value.”

Reference will continue to support the members in their efforts to make the non-editorial part of their organisation just as important and vital as the editorial.

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.