Via Portacarrase a Moncalvario 34
80134 Naples NA
Italie
- Media
Marea Media is an independent organization focused on journalism, media education, and community storytelling. In October 2023 in Naples, a group of young media professionals joined forces, motivated by the desire to challenge distorted narratives about Southern Italy and the Mediterranean. We are currently 9 active members, working part-time and on a voluntary basis In its initial phase, Marea Media finances its activities through international and local grants and funding. The kickstart grant was provided by Are We Europe through The Circle Hub project, integrating us into a network of media hubs across Europe. We are working to build our financial sustainability through international grants and crowdfunding. Our primary missions include building networks for media professionals in the Mediterranean, organizing events, workshops, and media literacy classes, and producing in-depth, community-rooted, solution-oriented reporting. Key partners include Hostwriter, n-ost, Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundatio and other media collectives such as Fada and Scomodo.
Marea Media’s mission is to challenge the orientalist clichés that dominate narratives about the South and the Mediterranean in mainstream media. We believe that community-based, in-depth, and solution-oriented journalism can create virtuous cycles of participation, civic monitoring, and counteraction against cultural impoverishment in Southern Italy and the Mediterranean region. Moreover, by putting journalism at the service of communities, we aim to foster mutual support networks among professionals and strengthen the overall media ecosystem. Indeed,as freelance media professionals, we understand the precarious nature of our work and the lack of quality training to do our job at the best of our possibilities. We often find ourselves isolated and without adequate support. We want to create opportunities for media professionals in the Mediterraneaan regions and break the isolation.
Our main projects and activities at Marea Media are organized around three key areas: Creation of networks and tools for Mediterranean media professionals. We aim to provide a support system for journalists and media workers in Southern Italy and the broader Mediterranean area and to encourage cross-border collaboration. Production reportages based on solution journalism: we engage in investigative journalism that emphasizes solutions, working closely with Southern and Mediterranean communities. Our goal is to produce impactful stories that not only highlight issues but also explore potential solutions, fostering a more informed and engaged public. Organisation of events and media literacy courses: We organize events and we are planning to conduct media literacy courses in schools, bringing journalism directly to communities. These initiatives are designed to bridge the gap between communities and journalism, address the widespread lack of trust in media, and promote greater civic participation. In February 2024, we held our launch event in Naples, titled "Marea Mediterranea: New Voices, New Stories." This two-day event featured investigative journalism workshops and a participatory meeting with various activists from Southern Italy. The focus was on creating narratives "from down under" in a participatory and emancipatory manner, moving beyond orientalism and victimization. We produce a monthly newsletter in which we update our community and offer food for thought on Mediterranean issues. There are currently about 200 people subscribed to our newsletter. Our members' work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Al Jazeera, National Geographic, and Euronews. With the upcoming launch of our website, we look forward to extending our reach and impact even further.
Building networks among professionals and communities, with a special focus on Southern Italy, is at the very core of our project. During our launch event in February 2024, we were already able to connect activists from different parts of Southern Italy, shaping discussions about shared identities and empowerment. Therefore, we're really looking forward to collaborating with other organisations also inside our country to foster collaborations. Also, considering our expertise in the media field, we can help amplify the voices of local organisations thanks to quality reporting.
Marea Media is a relatively new organisation, but we believe that networking in the Mediterranean is one of our primary goals. We are getting in contact with many organisations, especially from the Southern side of our sea, and we hope to build projects with them in the future. We consider that mobility and creating dialogues in the Mediterranean is of primal importance, especially in these times of conflict.