The Reference Circle continues to grow. We are delighted to welcome three new member organisations to our network: Átlátszó.hu from Hungary, RUIDO Photo from Spain, and the Investigative Center of Ján Kuciak (ICJK) from Slovakia. These additions strengthen our shared capacity to build resilient, independent public interest media across Europe, and they reflect the diversity … Read more
The 14th Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC25) brought together reporters, editors and media builders from across the world to Kuala Lumpur this November, and Reference members were there in force to share skills, ideas and new collaborations. Set against the backdrop of Malaysia’s capital, the conference underlined why cross‑border, independent public‑interest journalism remains essential – … Read more
At IPI’s milestone Congress in Vienna, Reference members brought stories of innovation, resilience and collaboration to life, showing how journalists across borders are shaping the future of independent media. From 23 to 25 October, Vienna became a hub of energy and exchange as more than 600 journalists and media innovators from over 100 countries gathered … Read more
A conversation about leadership, collaboration, and the future of independent media in Europe. Reference has appointed Peter Matjašič as its new Network Director, marking the beginning of a new phase for the growing European network of independent public-interest media. Peter brings more than 15 years of experience in European civil society, philanthropy, and journalism. Based … Read more
Amsterdam, September 2025 – Reference is delighted to welcome seven new members to its growing European network of independent, public-interest media organisations. The new members: FADA Collective (Italy), BIRC Institute (North Macedonia), Solomon (Greece), Fundacja Pismo (Poland), The Investigative Desk (Netherlands), Voxeurop (France) and The European Correspondent (Belgium) join Reference as part of the network’s … Read more
Athens, September 2025 – Members of Reference and grantees of Civitates met again in Athens for an intensive day of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and reflection during the iMEdD Forum 2025. The gathering brought together 32 participants from 14 countries, combining focused peer learning sessions with participation in the Forum’s wider international programme. Taking place within one … Read more
Perugia, April 2025 – Members of Reference gathered in Perugia, Italy, in the frame of the International Journalism Festival to participate in a series of sessions dedicated to the future of independent, public-interest journalism in Europe. The meeting coincided with the launch of the Journalism Value Project (JVP) white paper, Shaping the Future of Journalism: … Read more
Berlin, December 2024 – In late November, members of the Reference network came together in Berlin for two days of lively discussions, reflection and forward planning. The gathering, which took place in the Publix building, also welcomed several Civitates grantees into the sessions, offered a space to take stock of the past year and set … Read more
On Thursday, 28 November, the Journalism Value Report was published, providing a detailed overview of the state of independent public interest journalism in Europe. Drawing on responses from 174 newsrooms across 31 countries, the report explores this growing sector’s challenges and opportunities. At Reference, we are committed to supporting independent public interest media, which provide … Read more
We’ve been having a lot of valuable conversations recently, both inside the network and outside of it. Some key questions at the centre of the Journalism Value Project are What is the value of independent public interest journalism? and How can it be better supported? Answers to these might be obvious to those working in the space: incredibly important … Read more