Mensagem de Lisboa
Mensagem de Lisboa is an independent digital local newspaper serving Lisbon residents with neighborhood-level journalism in Portuguese, English, and Cape Verdean Creole, distributed via web, podcasts, live events, and reader and grant-funded operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLisboa, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Mensagem de Lisboa does
Mensagem de Lisboa (legal entity A Mensagem) is an independent digital local newspaper covering Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2020–2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic through a partnership between Grupo O Valor do Tempo and a collective of journalists. The publication produces neighborhood-level and citywide journalism across all Lisbon districts, distributed via its website amensagem.pt, a weekly newsletter, social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), and podcasts including Lisboa.BR and O Quartel. Its product surface extends beyond web journalism into long-form documentary series, a comic strip (Crónicas de Lisboa), live storytelling events (Mensagem ao Vivo at Teatro São Luiz, Festival de Histórias Verdadeiras at CCB), neighborhood-specific projects (Gazetta do Bairro in Chelas, Correspondentes de Bairro in Rego), multilingual content (Portuguese, English, and Cape Verdean Creole via the 'Txeu Orgudju!' project), and a consumer-rights column in partnership with DECO.
Underlying technology is a content-publishing platform with map-based story discovery (Leaflet/MapTiler), podcast distribution, and social-media integration; there are no disclosed proprietary AI or data systems. The business model is a hybrid of reader contributions/donations, project grants (Journalismfund, EU Local Media for Democracy / Narrativas, EEA Grants via Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian), corporate sponsorship (Visapress), ticketed live events at partner cultural venues (Teatro São Luiz, CCB, A Brasileira do Chiado), and merchandise and book sales. Two titles have been included in Portugal's Plano Nacional de Leitura (National Reading Plan), and the outlet has won a dozen industry awards, including the 2025 AMIC Catalonia Best Local European Newspaper award. The parent group provides strategic and financial support, while operations are run by a small core editorial team (11–50 headcount) supported by a broader chronicler network.
Mensagem de Lisboa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mensagem de Lisboa
- Legal name
- A Mensagem
- Website
- https://amensagem.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mensagem de Lisboa is an independent digital local newspaper serving Lisbon residents with neighborhood-level journalism in Portuguese, English, and Cape Verdean Creole, distributed via web, podcasts, live events, and reader and grant-funded operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mensagem de Lisboa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Digital Journalism
- NAICS
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Self-Publishing & Author Platforms (BPAMAJAF)
Keywords
Where Mensagem de Lisboa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisboa
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mensagem de Lisboa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Reader Contributions/Donations: The publication relies on reader contributions and donations to fund its journalism. The website features a donation button encouraging readers to support local journalism.
- Project Grants and Partnerships: Funded through various project grants from organizations like Journalismfund, European Union, EEA Grants, and sponsorship from companies like Visapress for specific journalism projects.
- Merchandise and Book Sales: Sells books, merchandise, and related products through the website, including publications by their journalists and donated items.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Mensagem de Lisboa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mensagem de Lisboa is an independent digital local newspaper (amensagem.pt) covering news, stories, events, and culture from every neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal. The core offering centers on community-driven local journalism distributed via the website, complemented by podcasts (Lisboa.BR), documentary series, comic strips (Crónicas de Lisboa), live journalism events (Mensagem ao Vivo), and neighborhood-specific publications (Gazetta do Bairro), as well as content in Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo). The publication is funded primarily through reader contributions and project grants.
Product overview
Mensagem de Lisboa is a digital local newspaper focused on Lisbon, Portugal. The publication offers a website platform with map-based story discovery, complemented by multiple content products including the Lisboa.BR podcast series, documentary series (Séries), the Crónicas de Lisboa comic book series, and live journalism events (Mensagem ao Vivo). The outlet also produces neighborhood-specific content like the Gazetta do Bairro for Chelas, journalism in Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo/Kriolu), and a consumer advice section in partnership with DECO. All content is distributed through a newsletter subscription and annual festival events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mensagem de Lisboa (Digital Local Newspaper) Digital local newspaper platform covering news, photo essays, stories, and events from every neighborhood of Lisbon. Includes articles, podcasts, and map-based story discovery for Lisbon residents, neighborhood communities, and immigrant audiences.
- Lisboa.BR Podcast Podcast series exploring Lisbon's history, culture, food, and identity, including episodes on topics such as the 1755 earthquake, football, fado, and gastronomy. Distributed on major podcast platforms.
- Séries (Long-Form Documentary Series) Long-form documentary series covering topics such as local collectives, cultural venues, and neighborhood stories in Lisbon.
- Crónicas de Lisboa (Banda Desenhada / Comics) Comic book series illustrating stories from Lisbon's history, featuring historical figures, architecture, and cultural events, co-created with Nuno Saraiva.
- Mensagem ao Vivo (Live Journalism Events) Live journalism events featuring true stories told on stage by protagonists and journalists, held at venues like Teatro São Luiz and Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB); sold-out sessions with up to 900 spectators.
- Gazetta do Bairro (Neighborhood Newspaper) Neighborhood newspaper for Chelas, produced with young local reporters and journalism students from FCSH Nova, with an exclusive Instagram publication.
- Crioulo/Kriolu Content (Portuguese Creole Journalism) Journalism content produced in Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo/Kriolu), representing Lisbon's multicultural community and diaspora stories; flagship project 'Txeu Orgudju!'.
- Festival de Histórias Verdadeiras Annual festival celebrating true stories from Lisbon, bringing together journalists and readers for live storytelling events. Celebrated its 5-year anniversary at CCB with over 500 spectators.
- Mensagem Newsletter (Weekly Email Newsletter) Email newsletter delivering weekly neighborhood stories and Lisbon news directly to subscribers' inboxes.
- Consultório DECO (Consumer Advice Section) Consumer rights advice section produced in partnership with DECO, answering reader questions about housing, neighbor disputes, and consumer issues.
Quantifiable outcome
- Two books included in Plano Nacional de Leitura (National Reading Plan)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mensagem de Lisboa
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mensagem de Lisboa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mensagem de Lisboa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- VisapressminorSponsored the 'A Verdade por detrás da Notícia' project, a journalism workshop program for youth.
- Associação Mundu NôbucorePartner in 'A Verdade por detrás da Notícia' project, created by Dino D'Santiago. Joint initiative bringing journalism workshops to underserved communities.
- FCSH da Universidade Nova de LisboacoreAcademic partner in multiple projects including 'A Verdade por detrás da Notícia' and the Gazetta do Bairro initiative. Collaborates with journalism students.
- Sociedade Ponto VerdeminorPartner in 'Heróis da Reciclagem' project, recognizing environmental heroes in Lisbon through collaborative journalism.
- Immigrantfoodie (Sergio and Oliver Zaciu)minorPartnership to create '101 restaurantes' - a list of the best restaurants in Lisbon, combining food journalism with local expertise.
- Atelier ArtériaminorCreative partnership for the 5th anniversary bench project - a public art piece made of donated seats from neighbors in São Domingos de Benfica.
- Associação Passa SabiminorPartner in 'Correspondentes de Bairro' project, training young people from Rego neighborhood in journalism.
- Teatro São LuizcoreVenue partner for Mensagem ao Vivo live journalism events, hosting monthly sessions with audiences of up to 900.
- Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB)coreVenue for the Festival de Histórias Verdadeiras, celebrating 5 years of Mensagem with over 500 spectators.
- A Brasileira do ChiadocoreEmotional headquarters and partner venue, with Fernando Pessoa statue. Hosts reading clubs and serves as symbolic home of the publication.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Mensagem de Lisboa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Público: Público is Portugal's leading digital-first quality newspaper headquartered in Lisbon; covers news, neighborhood issues, and community affairs, directly competing for Lisbon-based readers and journalists with Mensagem de Lisboa.
- Observador: Observador is a Portuguese independent digital news outlet covering Lisbon, politics, culture, and opinion - a direct competitor targeting similar Lisbon-based audiences with a non-traditional ownership model.
- The Bristol Cable: The Bristol Cable is a UK community-funded, member-supported local news outlet producing investigative and neighborhood journalism - directly comparable in mission, funding model, and scale to Mensagem de Lisboa.
- elDiario.es: elDiario.es is a Spain-based independent digital newspaper funded by reader memberships, covering politics, local communities and diversity - a direct Iberian peer in the donor-supported, member-funded journalism model.
- De Correspondent: De Correspondent is a Dutch pioneer of member-funded journalism covering 'uncovered' societal topics through engaged reader participation - a closely comparable model to Mensagem's community-driven, donation-supported journalism.
- NiT (New In Town): NiT is a Portuguese digital outlet (under Cofina) covering Lisbon lifestyle, neighborhoods, restaurants, and city culture - directly comparable in covering Lisbon urban stories, though commercially focused rather than community-funded.
Broad incumbents
- Expresso: Expresso is one of Portugal's largest weekly newspapers with a strong Lisbon footprint and growing digital subscriptions - a broad incumbent competing for the same urban Lisbon news audience as Mensagem de Lisboa.
Emerging players
- openDemocracy: openDemocracy is an independent, reader-supported investigative and progressive news platform covering Europe - thematically aligned with Mensagem's mission-driven, grants-and-donations-funded model.
- The Ferret: The Ferret is a Scotland-based reader-funded investigative local journalism cooperative - comparable in scale, funding model and community-investigative orientation to Mensagem de Lisboa.
Others
- Jornal de Negócios: Jornal de Negócios is a Portuguese business and general news outlet covering Lisbon-based urban affairs and city policy - adjacent coverage overlap with Mensagem's urban-solutions and city coverage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mensagem de Lisboa social profiles
Digital presenceMensagem de Lisboa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mensagem de Lisboa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Mensagem de Lisboa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mensagem de Lisboa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mensagem de Lisboa
What does Mensagem de Lisboa do?
Mensagem de Lisboa is an independent digital local newspaper (amensagem.pt) covering news, stories, events, and culture from every neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal. The core offering centers on community-driven local journalism distributed via the website, complemented by podcasts (Lisboa.BR), documentary series, comic strips (Crónicas de Lisboa), live journalism events (Mensagem ao Vivo), and neighborhood-specific publications (Gazetta do Bairro), as well as content in Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo). The publication is funded primarily through reader contributions and project grants.
Is Mensagem de Lisboa a public or private company?
Mensagem de Lisboa is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Mensagem de Lisboa founded?
Mensagem de Lisboa was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mensagem de Lisboa based?
Mensagem de Lisboa is headquartered in Lisboa, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Mensagem de Lisboa make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Reader Contributions/Donations are the primary driver. The others are project Grants and Partnerships and merchandise and Book Sales.
Who are Mensagem de Lisboa's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Público, Observador, The Bristol Cable, elDiario.es, De Correspondent and NiT (New In Town). Expresso is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are openDemocracy and The Ferret. Jornal de Negócios is listed as an others.
Does Mensagem de Lisboa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mensagem de Lisboa.
What industry is Mensagem de Lisboa in?
Mensagem de Lisboa's product category is Local Digital Journalism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAH, Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press, with a secondary code of BPAMAJAF, Self-Publishing & Author Platforms. Its NAICS code is 5131 and its SIC code is 2711.