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

Since its launch in 2021, Sphera has been growing thanks to a community of independent media and reporters across the continent who want to be involved in revamping the narrative of our continent. You can join this international community of citizens who have the power to put on the agenda and have the desire to confront our points of view and experiences with other people spread all over Europe.

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.

Francesca Festa

Founder and Executive Director

Pauline Butel

Head of Sphera project

Alexandra Tyan

Editor-in-Chief

Gabrielle Goyer

Administrative and Financial Coordinator

Hélène Pillon

Journalist and European Editorial Coordinator

Marco Carlone

Journalist and Video Producer

Meredith Ruleman

Content creator and translator

Owen Huchon

Tech and Media Journalist

A network of independent media

Ten founding partners accross the continent

Core members

Media partners

Our network of reporters

Astrig Agopian
Amelie Reichmuth
Bernardo Alvarez-Villar
Sara Lemlem
Maïlys Gelin
Federica Bonalumi

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.

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. 

Stay tuned!
Subscribe to
our newsletter