Project Oasis Europe: Nurturing Independent Digital Media for the Public Interest
Independent digital outlets have emerged as essential platforms for covering diverse and crucial stories. One of these: Project Oasis Europe, an ambitious initiative aimed at mapping and supporting these outlets, has illuminated the remarkable work they do while underscoring their significance in today's media ecosystem.
Project Oasis Europe, launched in April 2023, is a collaborative effort dedicated to identifying, cataloging, and supporting independent digital native media organizations across Europe. This endeavor seeks to celebrate the innovation and resilience displayed by these outlets, highlighting their role in addressing societal and human rights issues, investigative journalism, and more. It serves as a testament to the power of independent journalism and its capacity to shape discourse, drive social change, and promote transparency.
One of the compelling insights that arose from the project is the tangible impact of dedicated revenue generation roles within these digital media organizations. The data reveals that newsrooms with at least one employee committed to revenue generation enjoy annual revenue six times higher than those without such roles. This finding underscores the significance of business development in ensuring the sustainability of these organizations.
Financial sustainability is often a significant challenge for media outlets, and the existence of these revenue-focused positions provides a compelling case for investment. It demonstrates that a strategic focus on revenue generation can be instrumental in securing the future of independent digital media outlets and their capacity to produce quality journalism.
The diversity and breadth of coverage by these digital native media outlets are impressive. Over 85 percent of the outlets in the Project Oasis Europe directory emphasize societal and human rights issues. Their dedication to reporting on topics related to migration, refugees, gender, feminism, and more illustrates their commitment to serving the public interest. This is particularly crucial in an era where these issues demand constant attention and scrutiny.
Furthermore, more than 50 percent of these organizations allocate resources to investigative journalism, embodying their role as watchdogs and guardians of democracy. They play a pivotal role in holding those in power accountable and uncovering truths that may otherwise remain hidden.
Another noteworthy aspect is the high representation of women in leadership roles. Approximately 58 percent of the media founders featured in the project's report are women. This represents a significant shift towards gender equality in the media landscape and underscores the importance of diverse voices in shaping narratives and fostering inclusivity.
Project Oasis Europe also sheds light on the unique challenges faced by these independent media outlets, especially in markets where media ownership is concentrated in the hands of a few. In such situations, digital native media often serves as the necessary counterbalance, providing alternative perspectives and promoting pluralism.
In regions with limited press freedom and heightened political polarization, digital native media outlets have adopted innovative strategies. For instance, in Turkey, many have adopted a social-first approach, bypassing traditional websites to avoid online attacks and surveillance.
A notable feature of many digital native media outlets in Europe is their collaborative approach. The majority of these outlets have two or more co-founders, and collaboration extends beyond partnerships with other journalists to include their audiences. The Bristol Cable, for example, allows its members to attend annual general meetings, vote on editorial campaigns, and participate in board elections, creating a closer relationship between media creators and consumers.
This cooperative model not only fosters transparency but also aligns with the ethos of community-driven journalism. It reflects a dynamic shift in media ownership and control, putting power back into the hands of those who consume the content.
Project Oasis Europe is not merely a localized effort. Its success and insights will pave the way for a global media directory that encompasses regions beyond Europe. In 2024, SembraMedia, the organization behind Project Oasis, plans to launch a global directory that includes data from Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. This expansion aims to provide a comprehensive view of independent digital media worldwide and invites allies to contribute data from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East in the future.
The current Project Oasis Europe directory is a "minimum viable product" that represents the beginning of an ongoing effort. It will continue to evolve as a living database, adapting to changes and developments in the digital native media landscape. This directory serves as a valuable resource for media leaders, policymakers, funders, and academics to identify and support these vital organizations—but the plan is to grow this directory exponentially in the coming years.
