About us
Reference Circle is a pan-European alliance of independent media organisations working to strengthen Europe’s democracies through resilient, high-impact journalism.
We are a community of media leaders, supporting one another in building sustainable organisations fit for the future of our sector.
Our 34 members are pioneering new business models and organisational approaches that reimagine how journalism can thrive in Europe today. But innovation brings shared challenges – ones that are increasingly difficult to face alone.
That’s why we work together. Through Reference Circle, we transform collective experience into practical solutions to common structural and organisational hurdles, advancing a bold and sustainable future for journalism in Europe.
Our vision
A sustainable, independent media sector with a strong and lasting presence in Europe.
We believe that well-functioning democracies depend on well-informed citizens. The complex challenges facing our societies – polarisation, disinformation, war, corruption and the capture of public goods – can only be addressed through fiercely independent and financially sustainable journalism.
We are committed to collaboration. By working together, we believe independent media can achieve an impact that no single organisation can reach alone.
Our mission
Reference Circle tackles the challenges no one organisation can solve on its own.
Our mission is to strengthen the independent media sector as a key pillar of democracy in Europe. We work to accelerate the growth of our members into mature, stable organisations, while raising awareness among civil society and governments of the essential role independent, public interest journalism plays in democratic societies.
Our approach
We share our experience
We focus on non-editorial challenges, supporting one another in addressing organisational, operational and business needs. Through continuous exchange, annual gatherings, and a shared knowledge hub, members offer peer advice, share expertise, and collaborate on common structural challenges in a trusted environment.
We share our voices
Together, we demonstrate our collective impact on both the media sector and society. We advocate for the financial, legal and ethical wellbeing of independent, public interest media across Europe.
We decide together
As a self-organised network, member ownership is central to how Reference Circle operates. The network functions as an association in which decisions are made collectively, with each member holding equal voting power. All members commit to our Transparency Code.
Key decisions are proposed and prepared by an elected Board of five representatives from member organisations, with annual rotation. Proposals can be submitted by any member, and decisions are made collectively according to clear and inclusive voting principles.
Implementation is supported by the coordination team, the Board, and Arena for Journalism in Europe, which currently acts as the host organisation. Accountability is upheld through dialogue, shared responsibility, and trust rather than formal policing.
Current Governing board
Current Governing board
Cecilia Sofia Anesi (🇮🇹 IRPI media)
Catarina Carvalho (🇵🇹 Mensagem de Lisboa)
Teresa O’Connell (🇪🇺 Are We Europe)
Johanna Weidtmann (🇨🇭 Reflekt)
Dimitris Xenakis (🇬🇷 Inside Story)
The next Board member election will be held in May 2026.
Coordination
Coordination
As of October 2025, Reference has a part-time Network Director, Peter Matjašič (Slovenia / Barcelona), and a part-time Coordinator, Johanna Pisco (Ecuador / London).
Reference is not yet a legal entity of its own and is currently hosted by Arena for Journalism in Europe, which provides operational support.
Finances
Finances
All members contribute a membership fee, which helps cover external training, as well as travel and accommodation costs to network gatherings for organisations who need support.The network has also received financial support from foundations including Civitates, Porticus and the Alfred Töpfer Stiftung. Financial statements relating to Reference on Arena for Journalism in Europe website.
History
By 2018, warning signs were already clear: independent, non-profit journalism was emerging rapidly across Europe, yet it remained fragmented, under-resourced, and largely invisible as a sector. A small group of organisations began asking a pressing question: how long could this new field survive without shared infrastructure, representation, and collective learning?
Arena was among the first to act. At a time when no comprehensive overview of Europe’s independent media even existed, Arena put the idea of a shared network on the agenda at Dataharvest 2020 and began mapping key actors across borders. This early work exposed both the scale of the opportunity and the urgency of the challenge.
With support from Adessium Foundation, Arena commissioned a stocktaking report based on surveys and in-depth interviews with independent media organisations. The results were unequivocal: this was not a marginal trend, but a fast-growing sector actively seeking connection, coordination, and collective voice. Without it, many organisations risked isolation and stagnation.
At the same time, Netzwerk Recherche, working with two German universities, published the first academic mapping of Europe’s non-profit journalism landscape. Their conclusion echoed Arena’s findings: a new sector had emerged in European journalism – but one lacking the structures needed for long-term resilience and impact.
The response could no longer wait. In November 2021, with crucial backing from the Alfred Töpfer Foundation, Arena convened 20 organisations from across Europe. This meeting marked the founding of Reference Circle – a concrete step toward turning research insights into collective action.
Since then, Reference Circle has grown steadily to over 30 members. It has launched cross-border collaborations such as the Journalism Value Project, and laid the groundwork for a sustainable network infrastructure. In 2024, members agreed on a new strategic framework, including formal governance and an elected Board – recognising that the sector’s survival depends on shared responsibility and long-term coordination.
That strategy enabled the most recent expansion, bringing the network to 30+ members by October 2025. What began as an exploratory idea has become a critical response to a systemic gap in Europe’s media ecosystem – one that research made impossible to ignore, and action impossible to delay.
Contact us
Interested in becoming a member, or have a general inquiry? Email info@referencecircle.eu to get in touch with the coordination team.