Editorial Charter

Introduction

Sphera is a network of independent European media, committed to cross-border collaboration and collective impact. Sphera was created to report on the foundations of our continent’s future: social justice, climate emergency, human rights and democracy. Sphera’s mission is to foster deeper understanding of those European issues through shared editorial practices and innovative formats.

The objective of this charter is to outline the network’s mission, principles and ensure coherence, quality, diversity, and impact across all productions.

1. Our editorial vision

Sphera’s editorial vision is rooted in the belief that Europe is best understood through the stories of the people who live it. We seek to cover European issues through personal, intimate, relatable stories of real Europeans that emerge from the daily experiences, challenges, and aspirations of individuals and communities across the continent.

We pursue this vision through human-centered narratives that highlight personal journeys, intimate experiences, and local realities. By grounding our work in diverse voices and contexts, we aim to reveal the complexity of European societies and the connections that bind them.

We want to contribute to a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable society. Through our journalism, we strive to strengthen democracy, advance human rights, and empower young Europeans to act and participate in shaping their future. We pay particular attention to social issues, the climate emergency, the quest for identity and stories of exile, the future of our democracies.

Sphera is an independent, engaged, rigorous, and collaborative network. Our editorial choices reflect this commitment: we uphold high standards of accuracy and integrity, embrace cross-border cooperation, and highlight voices that are systemically overlooked or underrepresented. This vision guides everything we produce and defines the contribution we aspire to make to Europe’s public sphere.

This vision is also rooted in a critical understanding of today’s media ecosystems. Concentration of media ownership, economic fragility, platform dependency, and increasing political pressure threaten media pluralism across Europe. Sphera exists to respond to these challenges through collaboration: by pooling perspectives, sharing resources and expertise, and producing journalism collectively across borders, while preserving the editorial independence of each member.

Sphera is not a centralised newsroom, nor an institutional media outlet. It is not a simple distribution platform for national content. Sphera is a collaborative editorial network, where independence, shared standards, and collective responsibility shape the way journalism is produced and circulated across Europe.

2. Our editorial standards

2.1. Human at the center

As reporters, we believe that facts matter, but that people and lived experiences deserve our full attention. We believe that personal experiences are essential to understanding the complexity of the world we live in and to making it understandable to our audiences. Our journalistic productions are always character-driven because showing how the challenges facing our societies affect people’s daily lives and how they respond to them helps audiences connect, understand, and engage.

Our productions are built around real people, diverse voices, emotions, and lived experiences, with the aim of fostering empathy rather than detachment. While experts may contribute valuable context, we prioritise the voices of those directly concerned by the issues at stake. We prioritise reporting from the field, direct engagement with communities, and close attention to local contexts in order to produce journalism that is grounded, accessible, and useful. By foregrounding the personal, we aim to make Europe tangible, accessible, and meaningful to the publics we address.

Our audiences are central to our work. All our editorial production primarily addresses young Europeans, who care about the topics we cover, are politically and socially engaged , and feel a sense of belonging to a shared European community. Our research on audiences (www.spheranetwork.com/research-studies) is regularly updated through surveys and internal analysis, based on statistics and engagement on our distribution channels. We have elaborated personae for each of the target audience groups we identified, and content is created, curated and formatted to cater to each group specifically.

2.2. A diverse, multilingual and multicultural Europe

Multilingualism is not an accessory but a core principle of our editorial identity and a condition for reaching diverse audiences across Europe. In order to connect Europeans and to represent them in all their diversity, we cannot limit ourselves to one language. Our productions are available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish and Hungarian, allowing stories to circulate beyond national and linguistic borders. Whenever possible, interviews are conducted in contributors’ and protagonists’ native languages, ensuring authenticity and respect for linguistic diversity. This approach allows us to showcase a Europe that is genuinely plural and polyphonic, while ensuring that audiences can access stories in languages they understand.

2.3. Impact

Every production seeks to generate meaningful impact: deeper understanding, empowerment, and a strengthened capacity to act among audiences. We highlight voices and issues that tend to be overlooked, creating visibility and fostering dialogue. Our work aims not only to expose problems but also to illuminate pathways toward solutions, supporting informed and sustained engagement across audiences and communities.

Audiences are a shared responsibility across the network. Sphera’s productions are conceived not only for individual outlets, but for diverse European publics, with the ambition to be accessible, relevant, and meaningful beyond national contexts.

2.4. Collaboration

Sphera is a shared editorial space. Cooperation defines both our workflow and our identity, and shapes the way stories are conceived, produced, and shared. Each content we produce, each event we organise, each training we provide is the result of a collective effort. We decide together on the topics we want to focus on, share contacts and ideas, meet on the ground and support one another in navigating different countries, contexts and languages. The network is not a simple aggregation of outlets; it is a shared space where collective intelligence generates richer, more ambitious, and more resilient storytelling.

At a time when freedom of the press, as well as the editorial, economic, and technological independence of media, are increasingly under threat across Europe, we chose to unite. We stand together when one of us is attacked. We find strength in each other, learn from each others’ experience and expertise, and share both our challenges and victories.

2.5. Independence, Transparency, and Journalistic Rigour

Sphera upholds strict standards of independence and integrity. We do not let any power either political or financial interfere in the way we choose our topics and how we cover them. We closely monitor any possibility of a conflict of interest and strive for complete impartiality in our work. This is achieved through open collective discussions, brainstorming sessions and generally a transparent decision-making process.

We resist all forms of political, commercial, or institutional pressure and protect our sources and journalists from it. We maintain transparency regarding funding sources, partnerships, and support mechanisms

As journalists, we are curious, honest and humble. We rely on verifiable sources, thorough fact-checking, and plural perspectives. When we make mistakes, and we all do, we acknowledge them publicly and correct them transparently.

Cross-border collaboration involves complexity, differences in context, and learning over time. Sphera recognises the right to experimentation, adjustment, and learning, provided that ethical standards, editorial integrity, and transparency are upheld.

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of verification and fact-checking. All factual claims are verified using reliable, clearly identified sources prior to publication. Contributors are expected to cross-check information, contextualise data, and distinguish clearly between facts, interpretations, and opinions. Particular care is required when reporting on sensitive topics, vulnerable groups, or contested political issues. Errors, once identified, are corrected promptly and transparently.

Impartiality is ensured through collective editorial processes. Topics, angles, and story treatments are discussed, questioned, and reviewed within the network to identify biases, blind spots, or unbalanced perspectives. Cross-border collaboration plays a key role in this process, as it brings multiple viewpoints into dialogue and helps avoid national, cultural, or political bias.

2.6. Visual and Narrative Quality

Good journalism requires time and space. We take time on the ground to understand the issues at stake. We focus on long formats to report with accuracy. We cross perspectives to gain better understanding of a subject and to avoid simplistic or sensationalist narratives. We follow up on stories months or years later to see how the situation has evolved. We prioritise depth, context, and continuity over immediacy or spectacle.

Sphera commits to maintaining a consistent level of visual, audio, and narrative quality across all productions. This includes coherence in sound design, imagery, editing, and storytelling approaches that meet shared editorial standards.

3. Editorial Rules

Those aim to reduce quality gaps, clarify expectations for all partners, and ensure coherence across the network’s productions.

3.1. Topic Selection

Each story must primarily fall into one of the four global themes: identity, social justice, environment and democracy.

Topics should resonate with audiences beyond the country where the story originates.

Stories must place the struggle into a wider context, connecting it to shared experiences across Europe.

3.2. Formats and Storytelling

We prioritise human-centred narratives built around lived experiences.

We give precedence to the voices of those directly concerned over detached or institutional expert commentary.

We ensure rigorous contextualisation to situate stories within broader social, political, or historical frameworks.

We avoid mechanical or impersonal formats that do not embody Sphera’s storytelling approach.

We favour field reporting, in-depth interviews, and observation-based pieces that bring audiences closer to realities on the ground.

We avoid formats driven primarily by algorithms, speed, or standardisation rather than editorial relevance and audience understanding.

3.3. Languages

Unless absolutely necessary, interviews should be conducted in contributors’ native languages. This allows people to express themselves in the way they feel most comfortable, resulting in a more complete and authentic response.

Translations must be reviewed, validated, and edited by native speakers of the target language and those familiar with its cultural, social, and editorial context.

Technological tools, including artificial intelligence, may be used to support this work, but editorial responsibility and final decisions always remain human.

3.4. Visuals and Aesthetics

We avoid using stock footage in order to preserve authenticity and avoid generic or decontextualised representations.

We prioritise real portraits, genuine locations, and concrete details to ground stories visually and help audiences understand the realities being portrayed.

Unless absolutely necessary, we avoid journalistic style voice over and prefer music, direct speech by the protagonists and short on screen text when explanation is needed, allowing people to speak for themselves.

Visual and sound design are considered integral parts of the editorial process. They serve to guide attention, clarify meaning, and uphold the dignity of the people and stories presented, rather than to decorate or impose a style.

We adhere to a shared minimum standard for sound quality, lighting, and editing to maintain coherence across the network’s productions, while allowing flexibility to adapt to local contexts, formats, and constraints.

Any exception to the principles outlined in this section (3) must be discussed collectively and justified on editorial grounds.

4. Editorial workflow and responsibilities

4.1. Media partners’ responsibilities

Propose editorial angles and storytelling approaches in line with Sphera’s editorial principles, and participate in collective discussions to refine them when needed.
Ensure editorial coherence and quality at all stages of the production process under their responsibility, from topic selection to publication.
Share key editorial elements upstream (angle, narrative focus, protagonists, format) when requested, in order to facilitate coordination and avoid misalignment.
Remain attentive to audience understanding, ensuring that stories are intelligible, contextualised, and accessible to publics beyond the national context.
Participate in editorial meetings related to Sphera productions.
Comply with the quality, ethical and organisational standards set out in this charter.
Respond to follow-ups and regularly update the media coordinator on work progress.
Support their team throughout the project
Proactively communicate any constraints, unavailability, or risks affecting timelines, and alert Médianes as early as possible in case of difficulty.
Deliver content within the established deadlines.
Facilitate the production of other media partners in their home country (logistics, translation, access).
Media partners are expected to consider the editorial impact of Sphera productions from the outset, including how stories are framed, formatted, and contextualised for different audiences and platforms. This includes attention to clarity, relevance, and the capacity of the content to circulate beyond its initial publication context.
Media partners are responsible, editorially and legally, to produce content as outlined in the Sphera Grant Agreement, within the established deadlines.

4.2 Médianes’ responsibilities

Support and challenge editorial angles and storytelling choices for Sphera productions, in dialogue with partner media.
Ensure consistency in narrative approaches and editorial standards across the network, while respecting the editorial independence of each partner.
Provide editorial guidance throughout the production process, including on framing, narrative structure, and clarity for audiences, when necessary.
Identify potential quality issues or misalignments early and raise them with the partners concerned in a constructive and collaborative manner.
Conduct editorial meetings and coordinate collective editorial discussions.
Discuss and validate topics proposed within the Sphera framework..
Validate final content,in accordance with the standards set out in this charter.
Coordinate the translation process of all Sphera contents.
Provide mentoring and methodological, linguistic and technical support to media partners.
Strengthen the consistency of the network.
Act as a facilitator of collective editorial intelligence and cooperation across the network.
Editorial disagreements may arise within a diverse European network. When they do, they are addressed collectively through dialogue and reference to this charter.
Final editorial decisions are made by the coordinator and aim to preserve both the coherence of Sphera and the independence of its members.
Médianes pays particular attention to the editorial impact of Sphera productions, supporting partners in making content intelligible, relevant, and accessible to diverse European publics, and in choosing formats and narrative approaches adapted to cross-border circulation.
Médianes is responsible, editorially and legally, for the production of collaborative content and the overall compliance with the Sphera Grant Agreement along the lines of this Charter.

Within Sphera, editorial workflow and responsibilities are understood as a shared and interdependent process. Media partners and the coordination team each play a distinct role at different stages of production, while working toward a common objective: producing high-quality, independent, and meaningful journalism for European publics.

Editorial quality, relevance of angles, narrative coherence, and impact are not the responsibility of a single actor or a final validation step, but the result of continuous dialogue, mutual trust, and collective accountability throughout the production process. This shared framework is designed to support collaboration, protect editorial independence, and ensure consistency across the network, while remaining attentive to the realities and constraints of each partner.

5. Representation, diversity and inclusion

These principles also apply to how we work together within the network and to the diversity of voices involved in production processes.

We want to portray an authentic image of our continent, more representative and inclusive.

5.1 Representation

We highlight voices that tend to be overlooked by media outlets. We ensure representation of minorities (gender minorities, racialised people, people with disabilities, people in disadvantaged situations) in the topics we cover and the way we cover them. When need be, we have no problem putting minorities more in the spotlight, as we believe that they are victims of invisibility. We use gender inclusive writing in our written pieces.

5.2. Dignity

We make sure we portray people in a way that respects their dignity. We choose our words with care and avoid putting labels on people. For instance, we first focus on their deeds and aspirations to describe them.

Sphera acknowledges the human and organisational realities of independent media. Workflows and deadlines are designed to balance editorial ambition with sustainability, care, and respect for the people involved.

5.3. Dialogue

We are human so we also have our own biases, but we do our best to identify them and to confront our approach with that of other journalists from our team and the network. We guarantee a diversity of perspectives in the topics we cover in order to avoid binary narratives and foster dialogue.

5.4. Accessibility

We are conscious of accessibility issues that our viewers and readers may encounter and commit to doing our best to bridge those. All Sphera video content is published with subtitles in 7 languages of the consortium, on YouTube as well as social media accounts. We are hoping to make all of our formats as accessible as possible. All our contents and events are free and publicly accessible.

6. Ethics, Independence, and Transparency

Sphera is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all stages of its editorial work, ensuring that editorial, economic, and technological choices remain aligned with our mission and values. Our approach draws inspiration from leading European journalistic charters and adapts these principles to the specific nature of a cross-border, multilingual network of independent media.

6.1. Commitment Against Conflicts of Interest

Network members must disclose any personal, financial, or institutional interests that could compromise,or appear to compromise, their editorial independence and judgment. Stories must never be influenced by private interests, political agendas, or personal affiliations. Contributors avoid situations that create potential bias and, when necessary, suspend or end collaboration in order to preserve editorial integrity.

6.2. Financial Transparency

Sphera maintains full transparency regarding its sources of funding, partnerships, and support mechanisms. Editorial decisions are fully distinct from financial considerations and are never influenced by funding sources or partnership arrangements. No funding—whether public, private, or philanthropic—shall ever interfere with the content, angle, or editorial priorities of the network.

6.3. Independence from Institutions

Sphera operates independently from all institutions, including European institutions and national governments, regardless of the origin of its funding. For instance, we received financial support from the European Commission but our editorial independence is guaranteed within the Grant Agreement signed by Sphera and the European Commission. While we may cover their actions, policies, and debates, our journalism remains free from influence, pressure, or strategic communication. Editorial autonomy is non-negotiable and applies equally across all partner organisations, formats, and distribution channels.

6.4. Ethical Framework: Human Rights, Non-Discrimination, Verification

Our work is grounded in respect for human dignity, universal human rights, and non-discrimination on the basis of origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, social status, disability, or any other characteristic.

All content must be rigorously verified, drawing on trustworthy sources and transparent methodologies. Particular attention is paid to accuracy when reporting on vulnerable groups or sensitive contexts.

These principles guide not only what we report on, but also how stories are framed, produced, and distributed.

6.5. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Sphera adopts a careful and transparent approach to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI tools may assist in certain tasks such as background research, translation support or internal organisation, but they do not replace human reporting, editorial judgment or responsibility. All uses of AI must align with the network’s ethical principles, including accuracy, accountability, and respect for privacy. In all cases, accountability for published content remains fully human. The use of artificial intelligence must never undermine accuracy, transparency, or trust with audiences.

7. Evolution of this Charter

7.1. A living and collective document

This editorial charter is a living document. It is designed to grow and adapt as the Sphera Network develops, as our practices evolve, and as new editorial challenges emerge across Europe.

The charter undergoes regular reviews to ensure that its principles, rules, and workflows remain relevant and aligned with the network’s needs. Partners are invited to contribute feedback, propose adjustments, and collectively shape updates.

7.2. Monitoring the application of the charter

The application of this charter is monitored collectively within the Sphera Network. Each partner media is responsible for ensuring that the principles of the charter are respected for all editorial productions developed, co-produced, or published within the Sphera framework, and throughout the stages of the editorial process that fall under its responsibility, including topic selection, reporting, editing, and publication.

At network level, editorial practices related to Sphera productions are regularly discussed during editorial meetings, production debriefs, and coordination moments, in order to assess alignment with shared principles and identify potential issues. For productions coordinated or supported at network level, the Sphera coordination team acts as a point of reference and vigilance, supporting partners, raising concerns when necessary, and contributing to the overall consistency of the network.

When concerns arise, they are examined collectively and may lead to clarifications, adjustments in practices, or guidance for future productions.

7.3. Audience feedback, remarks, and complaints

Sphera takes audiences’ remarks, questions, and complaints seriously when they concern editorial productions developed, co-produced, or published within the Sphera framework.

At partner level, each media is responsible for receiving and addressing audience feedback related to the Sphera productions it publishes or distributes, in accordance with its own editorial practices and the principles set out in this charter.

At network level, audience feedback that raises editorial, ethical, or factual concerns is shared with the Sphera coordination team. For Sphera productions coordinated or supported at network level, such feedback is reviewed collectively and discussed with the partners involved. When appropriate, responses, clarifications, or corrections are provided, in line with the principles of transparency, accountability, and editorial integrity.

7.4. Onboarding and shared responsibility

Every new team member, contributor, or partner receives the charter upon joining the network. Its principles form an essential part of onboarding, ensuring that all collaborators begin with a shared editorial foundation, a clear understanding of expectations, and a collective sense of responsibility.

7.5. A shared reference framework

This charter is not only a set of rules, but a shared reference point. It supports editorial decision-making, protects independence, and provides a common framework for collaboration, accountability, and trust across the network.