Radio Lab

The reading oscillates between a wish to share and convey the authors voices and another one to archive them for their memory to be shared. The selection of texts wishes to underline the cultural and political ties between several decolonial contexts. The texts will convey the voices of, cultural workers, journalists and story-tellers and commented by the readers carefully crafting the links between them. As the first part of the reading establishes links through words, the second one does so with the help of images sharing with the audiences « Quinquina Diaspora », a video work by Samir Laghouati-Rashwan aligned with the topics carried through the texts. With: Zola Chichmintseva-Kondamambou (Beyond the post-soviet I FR) Iris Ouedraogo (Association des Journalistes Antiracistes et Racisé.e.s I FR)

The European media space could use some good design. The intersection between journalism and design is there to be explored. New media projects need better good designed set-ups, models and inclusive approaches, meant to be accessible to all, without technical, structural, and societal barriers. The new creed of Are We Europe – Designing Europe’s Media for All – is meant to be a rallying cry for all actors, for media big & small, legacy & independent, team & creator. A call for media to design their project and publications with the end user – the audience, the partners – in mind, to design adaptable, resilient organisations and diversify their revenue models. And to break down barriers to access to highly important information, whether these are visible or invisible barriers, and for those with visible or invisible disabilities. The keynote will be the center point of The Circle event, by its initiator, part of this partner-led consortium that has gone to 8 cities across Europe to build better bridges between media organisation. With: Mick ter Reehorst (Are We Europe / NL)

The digital scene is no exception to the strong concentration observed in the media landscape. Once a space of diverse opinions, the internet is now deeply influenced by Tech Giants, who, through major acquisitions, wield considerable power over key platforms of democratic discourse (for example, Twitter, which has become X). Technology has become an instrument of power and sovereignty, creating a new dimension in international relations. Technological races, particularly between China and the United States, shape the contours of this new hegemony, where the possession and control of technological advancements equate to power. This is now known as the ‘splinternet’: a concept that considers the global internet, once seen as a utopia for democracy at its inception, is giving rise to the formation of distinct ideological blocs guided by specific political and ideological interests. These blocs are recreated online thanks to algorithms which limit the free diffusion of information. By creating information bubbles based on a little research, the audience – and in consequence media and journalists – finds itself locked into a spiral of similar news – or fake news. How can we keep online democratic discourse free from ideological interests? What is cyber-skepticism? How does the action of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) unfold in support of the media and safeguard democracy? What consequences will the development of Artificial Intelligence have in this debate? With: Asma Mhalla (Geopolitics of tech specialist I FR Evgeny Morozov (Author I IT) Andrei Petre (The Circle I RO) Moderation: Amaelle Guiton (Libération I FR) In co-programming with Europod , to mark the launch of the podcast Les Santiago Boys.

Building collaborative, resilient communities is at the core of a strong independent media landscape in Europe. For this, new ways of doing journalism need to be designed and discussed. The Circle is a first answer to the sector’s renewal. It is a new approach to cross-border journalism and collaboration. By bringing together creatives, journalists & media entrepreneurs to set up the next generation of collaborative media hubs, the project proposes a new vision for the European media landscape, more inclusive, cross-border, and collaborative. This crossborder collaborative approach also aims at building bridges between legacy media and new media organisations to explore the latest formats. How can this vision be spread in a more effective way across Europe? What challenges are crossing these practices? How can we elaborate solutions to these challenges to better navigate these spaces? How to better enhance these collaborations to make European independent media more balanced and represented? With: Christina Lee (Hostwriter / Unbias the News I US / DE) Lara Rindt (n-ost I DE) Rimma Sammir (Are we Europe I KZ) Clarisse Teyssandier (Arty Farty I FR) Moderation: Sabrina Faramarzi (Are We Europe I UK / DE)

Dive into the rich tapestry of European storytelling at our Radio Lab, an integral part of our crossborder collaboration-focused media event. Immerse yourself in the diverse world of European podcasts through captivating presentations, riveting extracts, and exclusive mini-interviews with the brilliant minds behind the shows. Join us in exploring the significance of podcasts in the European media landscape, celebrating the vast array of formats and topics that make this medium a dynamic force in storytelling. With: Marie-Yemta Moussanang (Independent researcher I FR / TD) Karolis Vyšniauskas (NARA I LT) Laetitia Chabannes (Europe et Sentiment I FR) Zsofi Borsi (Lazy Women I HU) Ricardo Esteves Ribeiros (Fumaça I PT)

A spotlight talk into the local grassroots scenes of Budapest and Vilnius. From festivals, music releases and community radio, this panel brings together active players to both draw parallels between these cities and what the role cross-border collaboration can offer for the distribution of music on the margins. With: Nerijus Damasevicius aka SHN (Minimal.lt I LT) Gabor Kovacs aka Uj Bala* (Artist I HU / BE) Tamas Luspay (Blindblindblind I HU) Moderation: Samantha Lippett (Palanga Street Radio I LT) Powered by Palanga Street Radio & Lahmacun Radio.

The panel discussion will explore how the media influence the image of Eastern Europe, focusing on the challenges of Russian-centric narratives and bias. It will delve into how Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is potentially leading to a redefinition of narratives about Russia's imperial policy as well as Eastern European countries. In this context, it's essential to consider the impact of Russia's efforts to unify Eastern Europe under its leadership. The aim of this talk is to explore ways to counter bias in media representation, promote inclusivity, and challenge stereotypes about Eastern Europe. With: Petrica Mogos (Kajet Journal I RO) Lucia Udvardyova (Easterndaze I CZ) Moderation: Maya Baklanova (Tight Magazine I UA / DE)

In a context of mass media and concentration landscape, media and culture structures tend to be owned by a few big companies, leading to a homonagised representation of culture. This concentration restricts global culture and stifles emerging voices and perspectives. By decentralizing cultural media, it can ensure pluralism in cultural content and actors, as well as a fair representation of diverse voices. What are the decentralizing tools for media, especially in cultural fields? What Web3 can bring and how to implement it? What about networks? For instance, Lumbung Radio network uses community-driven curation on its decentralized media platforms which empowers communities to curate and highlight the content they value. This approach encourages collaboration, discovery, and a sense of ownership within the community. Through peer-to-peer networks and blockchain technology, the speakers will detail their own perspective on decentralization. With: Bas Grasmayer (Music X I DE) Grégoire Rousseau (Station of Commons / Lumbung Radio I FI / FR) Moderation: Whitney Wei (Resident Advisor I US)

As independent festivals thrive worldwide, some add another string to their bow by creating a media focused on topics they care about. These festival extensions or communication platforms provide additional content, maintaining year-round engagement, delving deeper into subjects and artists showcased at the festival. Festivals with a strong identity, be it in ecology, music genres, or geography, utilize media platforms to enhance their storytelling, curation, and community connections. These platforms go beyond the physical event, incorporating multimedia elements like artist and speaker interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exploratory discussions. By merging music, visual arts, and narratives, festivals-turned-media offer participants a multi-dimensional journey, elevating the discourse and understanding of the creative process. The speakers will discuss the challenges and the reasons of this ongoing music festivals and media relation. With: Salomé Besse (Europavox I FR) Luis Fernandes (COSMOS, Le Guess Who? I PT) Moderation: Manon Moulin (Arty Farty I FR)

Deputy Editor of Crack Magazine and a resident DJ on NTS Radio, Rachel Grace Almeida, is having a conversation with German DJ and producer, Skee Mask.

Radio Lab | Interdependence: Independent Media, Radio Broadcasting and Collectives by European Lab

Over the last five years, the issue of journalism has become increasingly important within the European institutions. From the democratic backsliding, online harassment, market concentration, self-censorship, the algorithms of social media, it seems that now the media ecosystem is being seen more and more as a European matter. But so far, it seems, mainly large actors are able to cross borders and to be represented. Therefore, how independent media should watch the European elections. How can EU institutions strengthen media pluralism and media independence? With: Francesca Festa (Sphera Network & Ereb I IT) Julie Majerczak (Reporters Without Borders I BE) Moderation: Quentin Ariès (Sphera Network & Ereb I FR)

The media often adopt a local or national approach to news. Yet many subjects need to be studied at a transnational level, particularly at European level. How can we document economic and financial, political, migration or environmental issues by stopping at borders? To carry out these investigations on a European scale, new transnational structures have emerged. They are organising collaboration between journalists and media based in different countries and developing new digital tools to aid investigation. The aim of these structures is to shape the journalism of tomorrow. With: Mathieu Molard (StreetPress I FR) Tomas Statius (Lighthouse Reports I FR)

How do podcasts incorporate alternative and independent points of view? Do they help to improve the quality of information in the European media landscape? The round table will look at a number of specific case studies, presented by a diverse panel of professionals from media organisations. With: Alexander Damiano Ricci (Bulle Media I IT) Evi Kiorri (Euractiv I NL) Ana Ribera Garcia-Rubio (Prisa Audio I ES) Jenny Tsiropoulou (Podcaster I GR)

What role does environmental and ecological journalism play in the current context of global media coverage of climate and environmental issues? Closely linked to activism, independent green media advocate a politicizing approach to ecological discourse. With: Afsaneh Angelina Rafii (Icarus Complex Magazine I UK) Sarah Freres (Imagine Magazine I BE) Sarah Leveaux (Engrainage I FR) Giacomo Corongiu (VD News I IT)

Between growing capitalistic tendencies in the sector and the increasingly obvious political interference of certain States, the European media landscape is going through a series of crises. Many independent media are evolving in this context, continuing to operate despite these threats. The Sphera network, which brings together a number of them, is giving them the opportunity to speak at this Sphera Media Lab, particularly during this discussion which aims to take stock of the independent press in certain countries where media freedom is in decline. It is a way of shedding light on these situations and looking at possible avenues of resistance. With: Agnieszka Wiśniewska (Krytyka Polityczna I PL) Pal Daniel Rényi (444 I HU) Karl Van den Broeck (Apache I BE) Moderation: Tine Hens (Historian & journalist I BE)

This panel will centre the ways to provide meaningful support to a scene affected by war. Taking part in the conversation will be Ukrainian cultural scene representatives Tanya Voytko and Nastya Zamorska, and Odesa-based artist undo despot, who will join in via a video call. Basing on personal experience of the speakers, this talk will concern the Ukrainian music scene in particular. After more than a year of the Russian full-scale invasion, it still proves to be challenging to find ways of supporting those who remain in Ukraine by need or by choice. However, it is obvious that that's where help is most needed. We will speak about how virtue signalling, tokenism and eurocentrism differ from support, exchange and active engagement, while exploring the ways to help and uphold the voices of those who are creating culture under missiles and bombs. With: undo despot Tanya Voytko Moderators: Paul Georg Nastya Zamorska

Created with the artist Nastia, an iconic figure of the Ukrainian electronic scene, this exchange focuses on how alternative artistic scenes, particularly the club culture in Ukraine, have mobilized since February 24, 2022. More than a year after the start of Russia's massive invasion of the country, multiple solidarity networks continue to operate throughout Ukraine. The youth have found ways to keep dancing, clubs continue to operate, community radios continue to broadcast music from local DJs, and artists continue to create. This situation demonstrates the strength of a people, their courage and positivity despite adversity. By showing how many actors in Ukrainian society are taking part in the current war effort, this discussion aims to understand how a Ukrainian collective imagination is shaped, motivated by the refusal of any form of fatalism. With: Nastia (DJ and producer, UA) Vadym Chynonyi (Laboratorium, UA) Moderator: Vlad Fisun (journalist, UA)

From 17 to 19 May 2023, Nuits sonores Lab presented 3 days of discussions, workshops, conferences and formats blending debate and music in Lyon. 60 artists, activists, thinkers, journalists and actors from the independent culture sector all over Europe echoed the vibrations currently being felt around the world.

From 17 to 19 May 2023, Nuits sonores Lab presented 3 days of discussions, workshops, conferences and formats blending debate and music in Lyon. 60 artists, activists, thinkers, journalists and actors from the independent culture sector all over Europe echoed the vibrations currently being felt around the world.