Media cooperatives in Spain. An entrepreneurial and citizen journalism in times of crisis

Abstract

The Spanish economic crisis had a direct correlate in the journalistic sector leading to the closure of reference media and the consequent increase in layoffs and precariousness. Within this adverse context, media cooperatives have become a way out for many professionals since they offer the possibility of developing an autonomous journalism identified with the interest of workers themselves and citizens. This article draws up a cartography of Spanish journalistic coops along the period of the economic crisis that started in 2008. It attempts to characterize the origin and ideology of these projects, as well as their organization and sustainability models aiming at guaranteeing an alternative and independent information agenda.