Project Oasis is a global research project on independent digital media led by SembraMedia with support of Google News Initiative and a growing list of partners.
The media outlets mapped and analyzed in Australia and New Zealand are part of the research we have carried out in more than 65 countries to offer valuable insights into business models, trends, and best practices that inspire collaboration and strengthen media sustainability. We are now expanding our research into new regions, including countries in Africa and Asia.
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.
In both regions, our partners developed a list of proposed media outlets 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 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.
Our research team identified 173 digital media organizations that meet our criteria.
Of those, 136 were provided by the Local & Independent News Association (LINA), which also helped us create media profiles for the Project Oasis directory. The data includes: a description of the organization, year the organization started publishing, location, type of coverage (international, national, regional, local, hyperlocal), countries of coverage, organization tax status (nonprofit or for-profit entities), names and gender of all founders, and the languages in which the organization publishes.
Digital Publishers Alliance (DPA) helped us to create 23 profiles based on their members. To complete these profiles, they sent our full questionnaire to the media outlets that met the criteria. They also followed up with member organizations to encourage participation. Ultimately, they created 15 media profiles based on interviews, and 8 profiles based on desk research with public information.
In addition, SembraMedia’s research team identified 14 other digital native media organizations in Australia that meet our criteria, and created profiles using publicly available information in order to include them in the directory. At the end of each profile in the database, we indicate if the profile was created with public information or through interviews.
In some cases, members of DPA and LINA were accepted even though they are not technically digital natives. This exception was made because they are digital-first, and they were deemed to be of significant value in the news ecosystem.
A group of researchers did the outreach to an initial list of 21 media outlets meeting our criteria of inclusion.
Over two months, our team scheduled and conducted interviews and did online research to complete the full questionnaire with a mix of desk research and direct responses.
In some cases, we accepted media sites even though they are not technically digital natives. This exception was made because they are digital-first, and they were deemed to be of significant value in the news ecosystem.
Regional Research Manager
Miguel leads the research team and coordinates partnerships for SembraMedia.
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Submit your independent digital media organization to be included in the Project Oasis directory.
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