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About Europe MédiaLab
Europe’s Médialab is a THINK-and-DO-TANK that helps create a sustainable media ecosystem. We run two initiatives:
- Maison du MédiaLab, a residency programme for journalists from Eastern European countries, and
- TEPs (Trusted European Platforms), a label promoting European social media platforms that supports quality journalism and democratic values.
Europe’s MediaLab is supported through contracts or grants from European institutions, philantropic foundations, corporate sponsors, and private donors. Europe MediaLab, previously Fondation EurActiv, became a Foundation of public interest (Fondation d’Utilité Publique) registered in Belgium in 2012. It welcomes new partnerships creation sharing our mission, whether through joint projects, research, training, or expertise exchange.
Maison du MédiaLab
We host journalists from Central and Eastern Europe in Brussels by providing temporary housing, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Our goal is to triple the number of EU correspondents from the region before 2029.
Trusted European Platforms (TEPs)
We promote European digital platforms that support quality journalism, respect users’ privacy, and help media organisations build sustainable audiences and revenues.
Collaborative Projects
We bring media organisations together to develop European projects, build partnerships, share expertise, and access EU funding. We also support innovation in areas such as AI, sustainable business models, and reporting on European affairs.
By 2040, Europe will have a stronger and more independent media ecosystem.
European journalists and media organisations will be fairly supported and sustainably funded, and European social media platforms will play a central role in how citizens access news and information. These platforms will prioritise trustworthy journalism, respect users’ privacy, and reduce the spread of disinformation through responsible design.
Journalists from all parts of Europe — including Central and Eastern Europe — will have equal visibility and access to audiences, and cross-border collaboration will be a normal part of how journalism is produced.
Through programmes like Maison du MédiaLab and initiatives such as TEPs, Europe’s MediaLab is contributing to building this more connected, sustainable, and trusted European media space.
DO – Training and Innovation
Training is an integral aspect of our organisation’s sustainable growth in a time of media crisis. Over the past 15 years, we have trained about 1,000 media professionals, including cross-border media cooperation.
Our flagship programme is Stars4Media, which enables media professionals, media organisations and technology companies from EU countries, to work together in bottom-up initiatives to test ideas and technologies, develop new business models, and produce journalistic content.
Together with our consortium partners: VUB University, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the leading publishers’ association WAN-IFRA, we have implemented the third edition of the programme: Stars4Media-NEWS (co-funded by the EU), where participating companies worked across borders with other media organisations (including Ukraine, and exiled media from Belarus). They benefited from ad hoc and in-depth coaching from recognised experts in the newsroom and business transformation.
Our flagship programme is Stars4Media, which enables media professionals, media organisations and technology companies from EU countries, to work together in bottom-up initiatives to test ideas and technologies, develop new business models, and produce journalistic content.
Together with our consortium partners: VUB University, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the leading publishers’ association WAN-IFRA, we have implemented the third edition of the programme: Stars4Media-NEWS (co-funded by the EU), where participating companies worked across borders with other media organisations (including Ukraine, and exiled media from Belarus). They benefited from ad hoc and in-depth coaching from recognised experts in the newsroom and business transformation.
THINK – Media Policy
We have a strong track record of working with media across borders. We have played a strategic role in many projects, demonstrating our ability to efficiently bring together the best players. Extensive experience and deep industry knowledge are our strengths. We are a trusted and knowledgeable partner for stakeholders and the EU institutions. We provide innovative and original tools and ideas to deliver policy events and innovation projects, led by a highly skilled and experienced team.
Two studies have been carried out with partners for the EU Commission‘s DG CONNECT, on European digital distribution of quality media:
1. Media innovation feasibility – EU Strategy study on content-sharing European platform(s) (2021).
2. Media Data Space Project (2022).
Our expertise covers strategy, research and events on media policy, policymaker relations, business models, editorial and legal issues, coordination of regulation of communication and distribution platforms, disinformation and governance.
OUR OBJECTIVES
We fight disinformation and strengthen Europe’s media ecosystem by:
1) Supporting journalists
Through Maison du MédiaLab, our goal is to triple the number of EU correspondents from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine before 2029. Why? The presence of independent journalists at the heart of European affairs is a guarantee of high-quality journalism for audiences in these countries, which are keen to join the EU in the medium to long term.
2) Collaborating on projects for media sustainability
We bring media organisations together to develop European projects, build partnerships, share expertise, and access EU funding. We also support innovation in areas such as AI, sustainable business models, and reporting on European affairs.
3) Promoting Trusted European Platforms (TEPs)
Through TEPs, we promote European digital platforms that support quality journalism, respect users’ privacy, avoid addictive algorithms, and help media organisations build sustainable audiences.
OUR ASSETS: we bridge East-West-EU in media circles
Our key assets lie in our ability to bridge media circles across East, West, and the EU, fostering cross-border collaboration and innovation. We benefit from strong goodwill and connections with media companies, associations, and key EU institutions and stakeholders, reinforcing our influence in the sector. Our proven track record includes successful public projects, notably four editions of Stars4Media, and the establishment of cross-border networks in 12 European capitals.
Looking ahead, we envision expanding a co-living initiative at Maison du MédiaLab, which has strong media and EU goodwill with potential for franchising to other regions.
OUR OFFICE
MédiaLab’s offices are located in the Résidence Palace, an emblematic building for journalists in the heart of Brussels’ European quarter. We have access to a large co-working space and a meeting room offering all the facilities for online meetings and work. We can also organise events, with the building’s full facilities: 150-seat conference room, recording and broadcasting facilities, restaurant and on-site catering.