CMFE - Community Media Forum Europe

What CMFE - Community Media Forum Europe does

Community Media Forum Europe (CMFE) is an International Non-Profit Association registered in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 2004 to represent the so-called Third Media Sector — community radio, community television, and other participatory, non-commercial local media — at European level. It emerged following the 2002 collapse of AMARC Europe and was established at the AMARC 8th World Conference in Nepal in 2003, with Pieter de Wit (formerly Executive Director of OLON, the Dutch federation for community media) serving as its first president from 2004 to 2009. CMFE holds official adversarial status with the Council of Europe and is recognized by EU institutions, with documented influence on policy documents signed by European media ministers at ministerial conferences in Reykjavik and Belgrade. Its primary constituents are the approximately 3,500 non-commercial local radio and television stations across the EU, alongside European institutions, journalists, and civil society organizations engaged in media pluralism, hate speech counter-action, and media literacy.

CMFE does not operate a unified technology product; its core activities are lobbying, standard-setting, research, and project coordination. Its portfolio comprises advocacy initiatives and training programmes including DISPLAY Europe (a multilingual content syndication platform covering 15 languages), SMART (radio training resources), MEDIA AGAINST HATE, MEDIANE, and MARS, as well as newer projects such as E3J, GET THE TROLLS OUT!, NEW NEIGHBOURS, and MILES. Marketing and distribution are conducted through the cmfe.eu website, newsletter, social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn), and a series of in-person DISPLAY City Sessions across European cities. The organization operates with a small secretariat and a Board of Directors supported by an Experts group, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024–2025.

Revenue is generated through membership fees from community media organizations, project-based grants from the European Union and the Council of Europe, and individual donations via PayPal. CMFE is funded as an advocacy and convening body rather than a commercial enterprise; it has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed commercial pricing. Historical project partnerships include core alliances with EFJ, ARTICLE 19, MDI, COMMIT, AMARC Europe, Near FM, and Hostwriter, alongside recurring institutional co-funding from the EU and Council of Europe.

Name

CMFE - Community Media Forum Europe

Legal name

Community Media Forum Europe

Website

https://cmfe.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Media Forum Europe (CMFE) is a Brussels-based International Non-Profit Association, founded in 2004, that advocates for and represents the Third Media Sector — community radio, television, and participatory local media — at European level, holding adversarial status with the Council of Europe and recognized by the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Advocacy and Policy Representation

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Newsroom/CMS Platforms for Publishers (MPACAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Blogging & CMS Content Platforms (BPAMAJAG)

Keywords

• Community media advocacy
• Third media sector
• Media policy representation
• Media literacy training
• European media networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruxelles (Brussels)

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: CMFE operates as an International Non-Profit Association and generates revenue through membership fees from community media organizations across Europe.
2. Project grants and donations: CMFE receives funding through project-based grants from the European Union, Council of Europe, and other institutional backers, as well as individual donations via PayPal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CMFE is an International Non-Profit Association that serves as the pan-European advocacy and networking platform for the "Third Media Sector" (community media). It coordinates policy engagement with the Council of Europe and European Union, runs advocacy campaigns and training programmes (e.g., DISPLAY Europe, MEDIA AGAINST HATE, MEDIANE, MARS, SMART), and represents approximately 3,500 non-commercial community radio and television stations across more than 35 European countries.

Product overview

CMFE (Community Media Forum Europe) is an International Non-Profit Association serving as a networking and advocacy platform for the Third Media Sector in Europe. Rather than offering a unified software product, CMFE coordinates multiple advocacy initiatives, campaigns, and programmes including DISPLAY Europe (a multilingual content syndication platform), SMART (radio training resources), MEDIA AGAINST HATE, MEDIANE, and MARS. These initiatives focus on policy advocacy, media literacy, counteracting hate speech, diversity inclusiveness, and intercultural dialogue in community media across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DISPLAY: A media project and platform syndicating relevant European content across 15 languages, part of Display Europe initiative organized by CMFE and Hostwriter.
• MEDIA AGAINST HATE
• MEDIANE
• MARS
• SMART

Products and services

• DISPLAY Europe
• E3J
• GET THE TROLLS OUT!
• NEW NEIGHBOURS
• MILES
• SMART (Specific Methodologies and Resources for Radio Trainers)
• MEDIA AGAINST HATE
• MEDIANE (Media in Europe for Diversity Inclusiveness)
• MARS (Media Against Racism in Sport)

Quantifiable outcome

• Community media was included in key Council of Europe policy documents signed by European media ministers (Reykjavik and Belgrade conferences)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mensagem de LisboaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Mensagem de Lisboa is a local media partner for the DISPLAY City Sessions event in Lisbon, Portugal (March 2025), contributing local perspective on climate reporting and community resilience.
• Podcast.rsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Podcast.rs partnered with CMFE and Hostwriter for the DISPLAY City Sessions event in Belgrade, Serbia (May 2025), focusing on EU silence regarding media suppression and democratic backsliding in the Western Balkans.
• HostwritercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hostwriter is a co-organizer of the DISPLAY City Sessions events alongside CMFE. Together they run a series of four in-person events across Europe (Athens, Berlin, Lisbon, Belgrade) to increase capacity of the European public space and exchange skills and knowledge among media professionals.
• Refocus Media LabsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Refocus Media Labs hosted the DISPLAY City Sessions event in Athens, Greece (November 2024), providing the venue and local context for discussions on tourism, housing, and migration.
• Tactical TechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Tactical Tech partnered with CMFE and Hostwriter for the DISPLAY City Sessions event in Berlin (December 2024), contributing expertise on media bias, polarization, and AI in the information landscape.
• European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016EFJ partnered with CMFE in the Media Against Hate project (2016–2018) to counter hate speech and discrimination in media across Europe. EFJ has also been a partner in the MEDIANE project (2013–2014) and SMART project (2013–2020).
• ARTICLE 19coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016ARTICLE 19 was a partner in the Media Against Hate project (2016–2018), contributing expertise on freedom of expression and media ethics.
• Media Diversity Institute (MDI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016MDI partnered with CMFE in the Media Against Hate project (2016–2018) to promote balanced and fair media reporting on migration and refugees.
• Croatian Journalists' Association (CJA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016CJA was a partner in the Media Against Hate project (2016–2018), focusing on promoting ethical standards and mutual learning among media professionals.
• COSPE (Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016COSPE partnered with CMFE in the Media Against Hate project (2016–2018), contributing to media literacy and training activities.
• COMMIT (Community Media Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016COMMIT was a partner in the Media Against Hate project (2016–2018) and in the SMART project (2013–2020), providing expertise in community media development and training.
• European Journalism Training Association (EJTA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013EJTA partnered with CMFE in the MEDIANE project (2013–2014), contributing journalism training expertise to promote diversity and inclusiveness in European media.
• Media AnimationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Media Animation was a partner in both the MEDIANE project (2013–2014) and the MARS project (2011–2012), contributing animation and media education resources.
• AMARC EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013AMARC Europe was a lead partner in the SMART project (2013–2020), which created radio training resources for community radio across Europe. AMARC Europe also has historical ties to CMFE's founding in 2003.
• Near FMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Near FM (Dublin, Ireland) was a partner in the SMART project (2013–2020), contributing expertise in community radio training and practice.
• Radio Corax (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Radio Corax was a partner in the SMART project (2013–2020), contributing experience in community radio training from Germany.
• Civilradio (Budapest, Hungary)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Civilradio was a partner in the SMART project (2013–2020), contributing Hungarian community radio expertise to the training resource development.
• klipp+klang radio school (Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013klipp+klang radio school was a partner in the SMART project (2013–2020), contributing Swiss community radio training expertise.
• Antxeta Irratia (Basque Country)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Antxeta Irratia was a partner in the SMART project (2013–2020), contributing Basque community radio experience to the training resource development.
• European UnioncoreOthers · 1 January 2011The European Union co-funded multiple CMFE projects including MARS (2011–2012), MEDIANE (2013–2014), and Media Against Hate (2016–2018), providing financial support and policy framework alignment.
• Council of EuropecoreOthers · 1 January 2011The Council of Europe is a core institutional partner for CMFE, having granted the organization adversarial status and co-funding multiple projects including MARS, MEDIANE, and Media Against Hate. CMFE participates in Council of Europe expert committees and contributed to policy documents.
• International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011IFJ was a main partner in the MARS project (2011–2012), contributing global journalism expertise to counter racism in sports media.
• Football against Racism in Europe (FARE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011FARE was a main partner in the MARS project (2011–2012), contributing expertise on football-related racism issues in media coverage.
• VIDC (Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011VIDC was a main partner in the MARS project (2011–2012), contributing to intercultural dialogue initiatives.
• OLON (Dutch Federation for Community Media)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003OLON, the Dutch federation for community media, played a foundational role in the creation of CMFE in 2003 and contributed its executive director (Pieter de Wit) as CMFE's founding president.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ARTICLE 19: ARTICLE 19 is a human rights organization that partnered with CMFE on Media Against Hate and shares CMFE's focus on freedom of expression, media ethics, and pan-European advocacy with international bodies.
• Free Press Unlimited: Free Press Unlimited supports independent media and press freedom with EU-funded projects and shares CMFE's mission of strengthening third-sector media. Both organizations run EU/CoE-funded media development programmes and advocate for media pluralism.
• European Federation of Journalists (EFJ): EFJ is a Core strategic partner of CMFE (e.g., Media Against Hate, MEDIANE, SMART projects) and represents journalists across Europe through advocacy, training, and policy engagement with EU institutions — mirroring CMFE's structure and mission in the journalism advocacy space.
• AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters): AMARC is the global community radio association whose European chapter's collapse in 2002 directly precipitated CMFE's founding. Both organizations represent community broadcasters through advocacy, training, and policy engagement with international institutions.
• Community Media Association (UK): The UK Community Media Association is a national-level counterpart to CMFE for UK community radio, TV, and online media. Both organizations pursue parallel advocacy, training, and recognition missions for the third media sector in their respective geographies.
• Hostwriter: Hostwriter is a Core strategic partner co-organized with CMFE on DISPLAY Europe and the DISPLAY City Sessions. It is a cross-border journalism collaboration platform serving a similar European journalist and media-maker community with similar pan-European ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD): GFMD is a global membership organization of media development and freedom-of-expression organizations. CMFE is comparable as a regional member and partner working on similar themes (media pluralism, community media, donor coordination).
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF): RSF is a larger, globally established press freedom organization that engages with European institutions on media freedom and pluralism. It operates in adjacent advocacy territory to CMFE but with a journalist-protection rather than community-media-development focus.
• European Journalism Centre (EJC): EJC is a larger, established European media development organization that engages with EU institutions on journalism sustainability and media literacy. It overlaps with CMFE's policy advocacy and training activities but with a broader journalism-quality focus.
• European Broadcasting Union (EBU): EBU represents Europe's public service broadcasters and operates as a much larger incumbent in the same European media-policy ecosystem where CMFE lobbies for community media recognition. EBU engages with EU and CoE institutions on the same regulatory dossiers (frequency access, digital transition) but for a different sector.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmfe_eu
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmfe.eu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/commuinity-media-forum-europe
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmfe.eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CMFE - Community Media Forum Europe