How can newsrooms regain autonomy from platforms? What ownership, collaboration, and revenue models can genuinely support editorial freedom — and where are journalists and communities already resisting, adapting, and thriving? Join us Thursday, November 6 in Brussels at Sphera Media Lab for a day of peer exchange, exploration, and action.
For the past year, Médianes has coordinated Sphera, a network of independent media outlets (444, El Salto, Popaganda, StreetPress, Krytyka Polityczna, VD News…) that fosters editorial collaboration across Europe through reporting, podcasts, videos and events.
On November 6 in Brussels, we invite you to join us for free at our annual event, the Sphera Media Lab, organised with our partner Arty Farty (European Lab): a day of conferences, workshops, screenings and meetings to exchange ideas, explore and take action with the media outlets in our network as well as journalists, leaders, activists and creatives from across Europe.
Join us! The event is free and open to everyone through registration. Please note that the main language of the event will be English. You can register for as many workshops and talks as you wish.
Practical information
📍LaVallée, Rue Adolphe Lavallée 39, 1080 Brussels, Belgium
⏰ 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
☎️ Free, registration required (subject to availability for conferences, workshops, and speed-meetings).
Today's program
Independent media face an unprecedented convergence of crises. As far-right movements gain ground and new laws increasingly target press freedom directly, many newsrooms contend with legal threats, intimidation, and dwindling public funding. At the same time, media concentration, platform dominance, and technological upheaval—from artificial intelligence to platform algorithms—are destabilizing how journalism is produced, distributed, and funded.
In this context, technology is a double-edged sword. While it opens new perspectives for innovation and efficiency, it also amplifies existing vulnerabilities: automated production threatens editorial integrity, algorithms disrupt audience access, and digital infrastructures often remain in the hands of powerful intermediaries. The erosion of trust, visibility, and financial viability is not merely a technical issue—it is a profoundly political one.
This new edition of Sphera Media Lab aims to go beyond simply documenting threats. It's a space for exploration and action.
Workshops
10:30 – 12:30 — Taking back control of tech: it's time to take action
How can independent media regain control of their online presence in a landscape dominated by major platforms?
This workshop explores the concrete consequences of editorial decisions to leave X, as well as Instagram and Facebook. It aims to understand the necessity and challenges involved, and to identify concrete strategies, alternative tools, and a vision for more independent and balanced online visibility.
For two hours, participants will be invited to develop concrete strategies, share alternative tools, and reflect on what sustainable and independent online visibility could look like, outside the grip of Big Tech, in order to achieve a more balanced and fair media landscape.
With Louis Van Ginneken (Médor) & Owen Huchon (Médianes)
10:30 – 12:30 — How to Survive as a European Content Creator?
As content becomes increasingly saturated, more and more creators are standing out by addressing essential topics with engaging formats. But how do you balance independence with a viable business model? How do you produce compelling content on climate, European affairs, social inclusion, or politics?
During this workshop, three content creators from the European creative landscape will share practical tips and tools for navigating the world of social media. From podcasts to video, they will explain how to create meaningful content while maintaining a viable and sustainable practice.
With Chloé Mikolajczak (The Green Monki), Evi Kiorri (Europod) & Vinz Kanté (LIMIT)
14:30 – 16:30 — Training on ethical use of AI
Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract future for journalism—it is already shaping how information is produced and distributed. From automated reporting and fact-checking to algorithmic curation and audience analysis, AI represents both an opportunity and a risk that touch the very heart of media ethics. Questions of transparency, accountability, and bias are inevitable, as are the challenges of defining the role of regulation.
The workshop will invite participants to examine the concrete implications of AI for journalism practice: how these technologies are transforming newsroom practices, where ethical red lines should be drawn, and what frameworks could guide responsible and sustainable use of AI in the media landscape?
With Bárbara Lazarotto (Vrije Universiteit Brussels)
14:30 – 16:30 — Independent media facing Russian imperialist narratives
How can you identify, respond to, and resist Russian propaganda? This workshop breaks down disinformation strategies—from blatant lies to "harmless" memes—and shares concrete tools to counter them without amplifying the phenomenon.
Lyuk Media and NARA will share their experiences as independent journalists and media professionals, and discuss how to identify manipulation, respond to it intelligently, and educate their audiences to build a conscious and critical community.
With Indrė Kiršaitė (NARA), Arysia Chernobay & Yurii Kapluchenko (Lyuk Media)
Conferences
10:30 – 12:00 — New technologies: what challenges and opportunities for investigating Palestine?
How are new technologies transforming journalism in contexts of extreme violence? Open source tools, satellite imagery, and digital platforms enable unprecedented documentation of events in Gaza, yet these same technologies—surveillance, AI, algorithmic disinformation—have facilitated mass violence, censorship, and disinformation, thereby accelerating genocide against Palestinians.
As Gazan journalists are being killed by the Israeli military and international journalists are denied access to Gaza, how can technology be used to investigate, seek justice for missing journalists, and hold Israel accountable? This conference will explore technology's dual role—both as an investigative tool and a mechanism of oppression. Gaza is not merely a case study; it is a warning—and a call to rethink how we use and regulate technology in the pursuit of justice.
With James Kleinfeld (Journalist), Marwa Fatafta (Access Now), Youssr Youssef (Journalist). Moderation: Souria Cheurfi (Journalist)
14:30 – 15:30 — AI, Algorithms and Threats to Media Independence
Artificial intelligence represents a major challenge to media independence, due to its dual role in content moderation and curation. Speakers will examine these technological developments, how they compromise access to diverse, quality information, and steer media consumption toward personalized, commercialized experiences, at the expense of informed public debate.
With Sylwia Czubkowska (Journalist), Francesco Marino (Pillole di Futuro Presente), Heritiana Ranaivoson (Vrije Universiteit Brussels). Moderation: Nastasia Hadjadji (journalist).
15:45 – 16:45 — Rethinking financing models for independent media
More than ever, independent media outlets today are having to rethink their funding models. Their traditional revenue sources continue to weaken under mounting market pressure and media ownership consolidation. At the same time, public funding mechanisms are often outdated and poorly suited to the realities of independent online media.
Participatory models have brought interesting alternatives to light, but they too face their own limitations. The question now is: what new forms of support can enable independent voices to operate? How can we more effectively involve media communities in fundraising, decision-making, and shared accountability?
This panel will explore creative approaches to ethical investment, cooperative ecosystems, and new solidarity models capable of ensuring the long-term future of independent media across Europe.
With Patricia Reguero Ríos (El Salto), David Kardos (CSM), Julie Majerczak (Reporters Without Borders). Moderation: Francesca Festa (Médianes)
18:15 – 19:30 — Media freedom under attack in Europe: how to resist foreign agent laws?
A troubling trend is taking root in Europe. Inspired by a 2012 Russian law, several authoritarian regimes are now experimenting with what they call "foreign agent" laws. In Russia, this legislation has significantly weakened political opposition, civil society, and independent media. It requires organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register with authorities as "foreign agents".
In his report Foreign Agent Laws: A Worrying Trend, Christian Holland emphasizes that
So, how can we resist the interference of regimes seeking to stifle independent journalism? Can pan-European solidarity movements and networks help push back against these authoritarian trends? And what lessons can we draw from media already forced to operate under such laws — to better prepare for what might come?
With Gábor Kardos (444), Mariam Nikuradze (OC Media). Moderator: Alexandra Tyan (Médianes)
Screening of documentaries from Sphera network media
In partnership with StreetPress, Popaganda, Médianes, VD News. No registration required.
14:00 – 14:35 — Hey Mate! French GenZ Standing Up for the Right to Study (Hey Mate! French GenZ Standing Up for the Right to Study)
With Maria Russo & Samuele Maccolini (VD News)
14:45 – 15:20 — Antifas, neo-nazis, and Viktor Orbán: The Budapest Complex (Antifas, neo-nazis and Viktor Orbán: The Budapest Complex)
With Thomas Porlon (StreetPress)
15:30 – 16:05 — Working 9 to 21: living or surviving? (Working 9 to 9: living or surviving?)
With Ioannis Tsioulis (Popaganda)
16:15 – 16:45 — Beyond the Glitter: When Drag Gets Political (Beyond the Glitter: When Drag Gets Political)
With Alexandra Tyan (Médianes), Belligerency (Artist and cofounder of the drag show Propaganda)
Speed meeting of independent media
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Spend an hour meeting the stakeholders of the independent media sector. Funding, editorial collaborations, project discoveries: a time for inspiration and networking with essential figures in the industry.
- Agnieszka Wiśniewska (Krytyka Polityczna)
- Alexandra Tyan (Médianes)
- Aníbal Hernández (El Salto)
- Antoine Lheureux (Europod)
- Daria Volpe (VD News)
- David Kardos (CSM)
- Diane Ranville (Arty Farty)
- Francesca Festa (Médianes)
- Giacomo Corongiu (VD News)
- James Kleinfeld (Journalist)
- Johan Weisz (StreetPress)
- Márk Benics, (444)
- Nastasia Hadjadji (Journalist)
- Pauline Butel (Médianes)
- Salwa Boujour (ADIM)
Networking evening & DJ Set
19:30 – 22:00
Live set with Coline Cornélis (DJ).
