Europe MédiaLab (Stars4Media)

What Europe MédiaLab (Stars4Media) does

Europe MédiaLab is a Brussels-based non-profit think-and-do tank founded by Christophe Leclercq (also founder of Euractiv) and operating across three interconnected programmes. The flagship Stars4Media programme supports cross-border collaboration among European media professionals through training, mentoring, and innovation projects. The Maison du MédiaLab is a Brussels residency that hosts waves of approximately six correspondents at a time from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, providing accommodation, accreditation support, office space, professional coaching, study visits, and institutional access so that journalists from Eastern Europe can cover EU and NATO affairs directly. The Trusted European Platforms (TEP) initiative is a policy framework and certification effort to promote European digital platforms as alternatives to US and Chinese infrastructure, supported by hackathons with technical partners such as Eurosky.

The organisation is headquartered at Résidence Palace in Brussels' European Quarter, close to Schuman Station, and maintains a secondary location at Avenue de l'Yser as the journalist residence. It operates with a small team of approximately 10 employees and is funded through a mixed model of in-kind contributions (founder-provided housing), partnership and sponsorship fees, a co-founders' club, and institutional grants including a partnership with Open Society Foundations announced in July 2025. There is no commercial pricing; the "products" are programmes delivered to selected beneficiaries and policy outputs (Democracy Shield, Stars4Media Day conferences) aimed at EU institutions and media ecosystem stakeholders.

The customer base is not transactional in the traditional sense. Beneficiaries are independent media outlets and individual journalists from Eastern Europe (e.g., Hetq, Factor, Babel, NordNews, IPN, Tabula, Civil Georgia, TV Formula, Liga.net, Teleradio Moldova), while funders and partners include Open Society Foundations, the European Federation of Journalists, the International Press Association, EU and NATO institutions, and various national diplomatic missions to the EU. Distribution is through direct programme delivery, a 4,000+ subscriber newsletter, LinkedIn, annual Stars4Media Day conferences, and podcast media partnerships.

Name

Europe MédiaLab (Stars4Media)

Legal name

Europe MédiaLab

Website

https://stars4media.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Europe MédiaLab is a Brussels-based non-profit think-and-do tank that supports independent journalism in Eastern Europe through a Brussels residency programme for correspondents, a policy framework for Trusted European Platforms, and cross-border media collaboration initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Policy Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Housing Marketplaces & Booking Platforms (THAMAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms (EDAIACAF)

Keywords

• Media policy think tank
• Journalist residency programs
• European digital sovereignty
• Cross-border media collaboration
• Independent journalism support

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and co-funder contributions: The organization receives donations and co-funder contributions to support its programmes, particularly the Maison du MédiaLab programme which provides accommodation and stipends to journalists. Housing is provided in kind by the founders, while operational costs are supported through a co-founders' club and partnerships.
2. Partnership and sponsorship fees: Partners can support high-level events and the practical support the foundation provides, gaining recognition from logo placement on communication materials and invitations to exclusive networking events and policy conferences.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Europe MédiaLab is a Brussels-based non-profit think-and-do tank that supports independent journalism and a sovereign European digital space through three flagship programmes. Maison du MédiaLab hosts journalists from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine in a Brussels residency with accommodation, accreditation, office space, and coaching. Trusted European Platforms (TEPs) is a policy framework promoting trustworthy European digital platforms as alternatives to US and Chinese infrastructure. Stars4Media fosters cross-border collaboration among European media professionals through training, mentoring, and innovation projects.

Product overview

Europe MédiaLab operates as a think-and-do tank focused on strengthening Europe's media ecosystem through three interconnected initiatives: (1) Maison du MédiaLab, a Brussels residency programme that brings Eastern European journalists (from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) to Brussels to cover EU and NATO affairs, providing accommodation, accreditation, coaching, and networking; (2) Trusted European Platforms (TEPs), a policy framework and certification initiative to build sovereign European social media alternatives to US and Chinese platforms; and (3) Stars4Media, the flagship cross-border collaboration programme supporting media professionals through training, mentoring, and innovation projects. The organization also runs annual Stars4Media Day conferences and technical hackathons to advance its democracy infrastructure mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maison du MédiaLab: A Brussels home for journalists from Eastern and Central Europe providing accreditation support, office space, and community for correspondents covering EU institutions
• Trusted European Platforms (TEPs)
• Stars4Media

Products and services

• Maison du MédiaLab A Brussels residency program providing accommodation, office space, accreditation support, professional coaching, training, study visits, and high-level networking opportunities for journalists from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine covering EU and NATO affairs for their home audiences.
• Trusted European Platforms (TEPs) A policy framework and certification initiative promoting trustworthy, European digital platforms that serve the public interest as alternatives to US and Chinese digital infrastructure, fostering a healthier online ecosystem through transparency, quality information, innovation, and European values.
• Stars4Media Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Six correspondents per wave from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine now reporting from Brussels
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for selection committee of Maison du MédiaLab correspondents, helping select journalists from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine for the Brussels residency programme.
• International Press Association (API-IPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for selection committee of Maison du MédiaLab correspondents, working alongside EFJ to select journalists for the Brussels residency programme.
• Mission of Armenia to the EUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cocktail reception in March 2026 celebrating Armenia's intensified partnership with the EU and the role of independent media, organized at Europe MédiaLab.
• Ukrainian Cultural SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular partner hosting book clubs and cultural events at Maison du MédiaLab, including discussions on Ukrainian literature, cooking events, and cultural celebrations.
• Promote UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for commemoration receptions in solidarity with Ukraine and events supporting Ukrainian journalists and community in Brussels.
• International Media SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish NGO dedicated to strengthening local media in challenging environments. MERIT Forum delegation visited Maison du MédiaLab as part of Brussels visit.
• Romanian Cultural InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Advahov Family concert at Maison du MédiaLab, bringing together diplomats, journalists, and friends around shared Romanian and Moldovan heritage.
• EuropodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast collaboration where founder Christophe Leclercq serves as guest host for three episodes exploring media ecosystem, Trusted European Platforms, and connections between Western and Eastern European media.
• Mission of Switzerland to the EUminorOthersMaison du MédiaLab correspondents visited to exchange with diplomats on political and security cooperation between Switzerland and the EU.
• Mission of Norway to the EUminorOthersFourth wave correspondents visited to learn about Scandinavian policy toward the EU and Eastern European countries.
• Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EUminorOthersSecond wave correspondents visited as part of study visits, discussing EU enlargement, Russia's war against Ukraine, and disinformation.
• NATOminorOthersThird wave correspondents visited for insights into reporting on the transatlantic alliance and engaging with Press Officers.
• European CouncilminorOthersThird wave correspondents visited to meet with press officers and gain understanding of Council documents, conclusions, and meetings preparation.
• W SocialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory on Op-ed proposing Trusted European Platforms initiative, along with Monnett and Europe MédiaLab.
• MonnettminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory on Op-ed proposing Trusted European Platforms initiative, along with W Social and Europe MédiaLab.
• Promote GeorgiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on photo exhibition 'A Year On: Media Under Pressure and the Faces of Dissent' documenting protests in Georgia and challenges faced by independent media.
• EuroskycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for hackathon on Trusted European Platforms, turning TEP discussions into concrete technical features. Eurosky demonstrated decentralized rails built on ATProto standards aligned with TEP vision.
• Commons Hub BrusselsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for TEP hackathon alongside FOSDEM, bringing together open-source developers and policy/business professionals.
• MLexminorOthersSpecialized media outlet where correspondents exchanged views on Brussels reporting and received practical advice.
• Politico EuropeminorOthersMedia outlet visited by correspondents to explore how EU policies are covered by influential Brussels-bubble media.
• Council of Europe Liaison Office to the EUminorOthersVisited to understand role in promoting human rights, democracy, and rule of law across the continent.
• TVP WorldminorOthersPolish Public Broadcaster's office covering EU, NATO and regional affairs from Brussels, visited by correspondents.
• European External Action Service (EEAS)minorOthersEU's diplomatic service visited to understand implementation of Common Foreign and Security Policy and representation of Union's interests.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• DW Akademie: Deutsche Welle's media development organization supporting media freedom and journalism training in transition and developing countries, including Eastern Europe. Functionally adjacent — comparable training/coaching mission for journalists from restrictive media environments, though operating at much larger scale as part of German public broadcaster.

Broad incumbents

• Internews: Global media development non-profit with operations in Eastern Europe and a larger portfolio of media-support programmes. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the media resilience space serving similar target countries.
• Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Paris-headquartered global press freedom organization with much larger scale and broader geographic mandate. Functions as a broad incumbent in the same media freedom space, but with a global rather than European-policy specialization.

Direct peers

• European Endowment for Democracy: Brussels-based EU-funded foundation supporting pro-democracy actors in the European neighbourhood, including independent media in Eastern Europe. Comparable as a Brussels-anchored media/democracy funder operating across the same target countries (Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine).
• European Journalism Centre: Maastricht-based non-profit supporting European journalism innovation, training, and cross-border collaboration. Directly comparable as a European media ecosystem builder with grants, events, and journalism programmes aimed at strengthening independent journalism across borders.
• Free Press Unlimited: Dutch NGO supporting independent journalism in restrictive environments worldwide, including Eastern Europe. Comparable mission of supporting journalists from countries with press freedom challenges, with similar programme delivery and donor-funded model.
• European Federation of Journalists (EFJ): Brussels-based federation representing over 320,000 journalists across Europe. Direct peer and partner: Europe MédiaLab's Maison du MédiaLab selection committee is co-run with EFJ, and both organizations advocate for journalism welfare and press freedom at the EU level.
• International Media Support (IMS): Danish NGO dedicated to strengthening local media in challenging environments, active across Eastern Europe. Highly comparable as Europe MédiaLab partners with IMS via MERIT Forum delegations and shares the same media resilience mission for countries like Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.
• International Press Institute (IPI): Vienna-based global press freedom network defending journalism and promoting independent media. Comparable in mission, geographic scope, and policy advocacy focus on press freedom in Eastern Europe and beyond.

Emerging players

• Journalismfund.eu: Brussels-based European journalism grant-making organization supporting cross-border investigative journalism. Comparable as a smaller, specialized European media support organization with cross-border journalism funding focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/europemedialab-stars4media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Europe MédiaLab (Stars4Media)