Europe’s Medialab is a THINK-and-DO-TANK that helps foster a sustainable media ecosystem. Our sources of income are diverse-funds awarded by grant-making organisations, such as foundations, EU Institutions and corporate sponsors, as well as from private donors. Interested partner funders are welcome to join in and support Europe’s MediaLab activities where objectives and principles are mutually beneficial. We welcome partners engaging in projects, participating in studies, providing training and specific expertise and promoting knowledge sharing.
VISION: skills for media innovation & resilience across Europe
Our vision is to foster media innovation and resilience across Europe by promoting cross-border cooperation as a response to increasing technological fixed costs. In an evolving global context marked by geopolitical tensions and the extreme politicization of the media sector, financial sustainability and media pluralism require collaborative solutions that transcend national boundaries. Rather than positioning ourselves as leaders in technology, business, or editorial matters, we complement the efforts of large NGOs focused on press freedom, the rule of law, and combating disinformation, contributing to a more sustainable and diverse media ecosystem.
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 our infrastructure with a coworking space at Résidence Palace, starting with an informal phase before scaling up strategically, and a co-living initiative at Maison du MédiaLab, which has already garnered strong media and EU goodwill, with potential for franchising. Additionally, our multilingual capacity, covering the top three European languages and key Eastern European languages, strengthens our ability to engage diverse media professionals across the continent.
OBJECTIVES: impact via Eastern journalists and help to European projects
Our objectives center on maximizing our impact by supporting Eastern journalists and contributing to European media projects. We aim to leverage the goodwill generated by Maison du MédiaLab by integrating it into broader media initiatives, with a similar approach planned for the MédiaLab coworking space. Building on the success of Stars4Media, we seek to develop additional projects that strengthen the media sector from within. By fostering media partnerships and enhancing cooperation skills, we will also provide coaching for innovators, with funding sourced from external stakeholders. Over time, we aspire to help media organizations secure EU-backed projects addressing key industry needs such as business model diversification, AI integration, and reporting on EU and NATO affairs. A core focus will be ensuring long-term sustainability by building a strong, future-ready team, preparing for leadership transitions as Christophe gradually reduces his involvement.
OUR CREDENTIALS
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 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 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.
Stars4Media-FACTCHECKING: Strategy for Eastern European Media Resilience was a project led by Europe’s MediaLab in consortium partners with I-Europa (Slovakia), Europejskie Media (Poland), Free Media Bulgaria (Belgium) and Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia) and funded by EMIF (European Media and Innovation Fund).
Liga Media (Ukraine), Media IQ (Belarus), Pavel Grabchikov/Kraina project (Belarus) and Belarusian Investigative Centre (Belarus) were media third parties in the project. This research project focused on the financial, organisational and trust sustainability of integrating fact-checking into a sustainable activity for media in Eastern Europe, also in terms of business model, extending from short-term journalism work. Models and recommendations developed in the project could be replicated beyond its focus region, leveraging existing experience, and using proven media and fact-checking networks.
EVENTS, LOGISTICS and WORKING SPACE
MédiaLab’s offices are located in the Résidence Palace, an emblematic building for journalists in the heart of Brussels’ European quarter. We have 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.
MAISON DU MÉDIALAB: JOURNALISTS FROM EASTERN EUROPE
Boosting and integrating correspondents: a Brussels infrastructure for democracy
The EU and NATO are essential hopes for Eastern Europeans. But coverage “on the ground” is limited, leaving room for both ignorance and disinformation. Eastern European media are eager to send more reporters: they need practical help, not only money but introduction.
The Maison du MédiaLab residence is hosting Eastern European Brussels correspondents, offering them not only accommodation in the heart of the EU policy making for 6 months (on a rotation basis) but also professional development with networking and training opportunities.
What are the quantified goals?
In a few years, assuming the majority manage to stay in Brussels, we anticipate tripling the number of Eastern European accredited correspondents in Brussels: indeed, before the launch of the programme, there used to be only 10. The programme has already integrated 12 correspondents.
