Our criteria for inclusion included below was developed by an international team with the goal of identifying independent digital native media that operate with editorial independence and transparency, and produce original content that serves a public interest.

Our goal is not to create the largest directory in the world, but to create a carefully curated directory of independent digital media to bring attention to this emerging part of the news market.

We do not charge media for their inclusion in our directories, and being included does not imply that they have participated in our programs, or received funds from SembraMedia or our partners. It simply means that these media meet our criteria for journalistic independence and transparency.

While there are many criteria in common, each regional directory has its own criteria for inclusion. You can find the criteria for each on their sites at these links:

• The criteria for Europe
• The criteria for Latin America
• The criteria for Brazil
• The criteria for the United States and Canada

Although we seek to ensure that all media included in the directory meet all of our criteria, we do make exceptions when adhering to these criteria could cause legal, physical or other threats to the founders, leaders, editors, journalists or others in these organisations. 

Some of the profiles in this directory were created using publicly available information through desk research. You will find a note in those specific profiles. However, in all cases, a SembraMedia ambassador, research manager or external researcher carefully reviewed them to ensure they met the project’s established criteria.

The Project Oasis Media Directory is a living database, designed to try and keep up with the ever-changing media market. We plan to continue to update and develop the directory over the coming years. 

Our goal is to identify new kinds of media that serve the public interest without excluding startups that are so new or so innovative that they do not always look like news organizations, and as a result, can’t meet the traditional criteria other organizations use in these types of assessments. We prioritize editorially independent, digital native news organizations that serve the public interest through news, investigative journalism, and fact-based reporting.

We welcome feedback as this project evolves, and expect to continue to refine these criteria in the future as we continue revising and expanding this directory for years to come.

Being included in the directory is free for media outlets and does not require or imply participation in any programs or receiving funds from SembraMedia; it simply means meeting the criteria outlined on this page.