About us
Contrasting views and linking destinies, redesigning Europe from the ground up. Sphera is the network of independent media that plunges you into the soul of our continent.
To explore all the nooks and crannies of this world, we offer you several options: video reports and features, newsletters, podcasts, social media content and events across the continent. Sphera defends a more humane and socially-engaged cross-border European journalism.
Our values
Cross-border journalism is journalism that goes beyond borders, allows reporters of different nationalities to work together and publishes in seven languages, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish and Hungarian.
Socially engaged journalism is journalism that pays particular attention to; social issues, the climate emergency, the quest for identity and stories of exile, the future of our democracies. Those themes animate our continent and concern us all.
Journalism that refocuses on the human being is a journalism which comes from the grassroots, which is immersed in daily life and brings to the surface beautiful stories and new, previously unheard voices. Finally it is cross-border journalism exploring this feeling of “European belonging” as more and more Europeans, and especially young ones, are more and more attached with the idea that our lives and destinies are more and more interconnected and intertwined.
We invite you to read our manifesto for a more humane European journalism
Who we are
Sphera was created in 2021 by contributors of Cafébabel, the first European participative magazine, and is now led by a dedicated team from the not-for-profit media outlet, consultancy, and peer network Médianes.
Médianes is a European studio that supports media organizations in strengthening their editorial, economic, and technological independence. We help them build sustainable systems and align more closely with their audiences and values.
Today, Sphera lives on thanks to its network of independent media and reporters based in the four corners of Europe.
A network of independent media
Ten founding partners accross the continent
Core members
Médianes
Launched in 2020, Médianes supports media project leaders with a consultancy agency and a free resource center, helping newsrooms and indie media leaders build and engage their audiences.
El Salto
Since 2017, El Salto is a Spanish cooperative independent media covering politics, ecofeminism, migration and culture from a radical perspective, with a strong focus on grassroots audiovisual storytelling.
444
Launched in 2013, 444.hu is a Hungarian independent news site built by a small determined team, now employing 30 reporters, reaching 3 million monthly readers with award-winning investigations.
Arty Farty
Arty Farty is a French non-profit organisation driving creative projects since 1999, organising European Lab and Nuit Sonores to promote youth, innovation and a reinforced, redefined Europe.
Dinamo
Dinamo is an Italian web agency specialised in video production and social media marketing, where the synergy of technique and creativity drives every concept, production and distribution.
StreetPress
StreetPress is a French online media on urban culture and society. Since 2009, it has promoted investigative journalism rebuilding trust between citizens and the media, fighting social prejudice.
VD News
VD is an independent media brand informing youth through original real life stories and documentaries about current events and lifestyle, giving voice to people and opening debates on the world.
Krytyka
A progressive Polish network of institutions and activists combining media, publishing, education and culture to counter inequality, deepen democracy and protect minorities against pressure.
Europod
Europod is the only European agency dedicated entirely to podcasting, born in 2018 as Bulle Media, exploring European cultures, politics and societies through the latest audio formats today.
Propaganda
Greece’s first online multimedia culture magazine, launched in 2013 as an independent startup by diverse individuals, journalists, photographers and designers exploring society through pop culture.
Media partners
Transparent funding
Sphera exists first and foremost thanks to the preparatory action “A European public sphere: a new online media offer for young Europeans “ by the European Commission DG Connect that gives us the beautiful opportunity to test and experiment the Sphera Network from 2021.
We received support by the European Commission. The editorial independence is guaranteed within the Grant Agreement. You can access the Editorial charter.
However, this source of funding is not sufficient to cover all our activities. We have therefore devised a diversified economic model based on sponsoring fees, public and private grants and a production studio. Involving our readers in the financing of the medium is our next step and the best way to guarantee our independence and sustainability.
