Project Oasis is a global research project on independent digital media and news content creators led by SembraMedia with support of Google News Initiative and a growing list of partners.
The media outlets and news creators mapped and analyzed in Africa are part of the research we have carried out in more than 70 countries to offer valuable insights into business models, trends, and best practices that inspire collaboration and strengthen media sustainability.
By making this information accessible, Project Oasis aims to foster a stronger, more resilient media ecosystem that protects press freedom and serves the public interest.
Our partner Code for Africa developed a list of proposed media outlets and news content creators based on Project Oasis criteria for inclusion.
To be included in the Project Oasis Media Directory, media organizations must meet a set of editorial, operational, and transparency criteria developed by our team. We prioritize digital native outlets and projects that produce original content that serves the public interest, operate with editorial independence, and demonstrate transparency about their ownership and leadership. Inclusion is free and does not imply participation in our programs or funding from SembraMedia or its partners.
While our core criteria are consistent across regions, we allow for some contextual flexibility and may make exceptions when strict adherence could pose risks to media staff. All entries are reviewed by researchers with local knowledge, and the directory is continuously updated to reflect changes in the digital media ecosystem.
We focused on the state of digital news organizations in seven African countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. The media profiles were created with support from our research partner Code for Africa.
The goal of our research was to identify trends, opportunities, and challenges and to provide insights in the report. The analysis was completed with a database of 763 media profiles that included structured data and narrative descriptions: 160 in Côte d’Ivoire, 88 in Ghana, 90 in Kenya, 54 in Morocco, 184 in Nigeria, 51 in Senegal, and 136 in South Africa.
The research team surveyed all African digital media organizations to update the Global Project Oasis Media Directory and produce the report.
Project Oasis Director
SembraMedia’s operations team oversees the management and development of the Project Oasis research and media directory, in collaboration with local partners.
