By Isabela Ocampo
Representatives from SembraMedia, an organization that has spent nearly a decade working to strengthen the sustainability of independent digital media in Latin America, led a presentation on their work during the 18th Iberoamerican Colloquium on Digital Journalism.
Titled “Trends, Tips and Best Practices for Media Sustainability,” SembraMedia representatives Sofía Álvarez and Daniela Fernández shared key findings, notable experiences and reflections on the many challenges faced by digital media outlets in the region.
Fernández, SembraMedia’s director of innovation, opened the presentation by emphasizing that “media outlets are not solitary islands, but connected archipelagos,” highlighting the importance of collaboration and mutual support within the journalism ecosystem.
A comprehensive view of sustainability
One of SembraMedia’s contributions has been its ability to reframe the question of media sustainability. As Fernández explained, that question has evolved over time and is now understood through a broader lens, one that considers factors like well-being, finances, editorial independence and the political-social context in which each outlet operates.
“Sustainability is not uniform. Sustainability is not the same for every market,” Fernández said.
This approach led SembraMedia to build a directory of digital media outlets that meet criteria of independence, transparency, and public service. According to them, this mapping is constantly updated to reflect changes in the media ecosystem and the emergence of new projects.
From viability to sustainability
One of the key concepts SembraMedia introduced during the colloquium was the idea of viability as a necessary step before sustainability.
“Sustainability, ultimately, is not the only goal. What we mainly see is that viability comes first,” Fernández said.
In other words, in a region as volatile and challenging as Latin America, the first battle is simply for media outlets to exist, only then can they aim to sustain and grow.
This point became even more powerful when discussing media operating in exile or in countries where press freedom is restricted by laws or political pressure.
“Unfortunately, contexts change, and so does sustainability,” Fernández said.
In those cases, they emphasized that talking about sustainability without addressing security, viability and support networks is not enough.
Over 30 revenue sources, but no magic formula
Throughout its research, SembraMedia has identified more than 30 potential revenue streams in the region. However, Fernández and Álvarez were clear in saying there is no single solution.
“This doesn’t solve the sustainability issue. This isn’t bingo: ‘today I’ll try this revenue stream, tomorrow another.’ This is everyday work,” Fernández emphasized. She also stressed that it’s a process requiring planning and constant evaluation.
In this spirit, they shared a phrase their team often uses as a mantra: “We’re optimistic, but not romantic.” In other words, there’s hope in the possibilities for independent journalism, but without falling into illusions. The evolution of sustainability models is a long, complex and deeply contextual process, Fernández and Álvarez emphasized.
The challenges ahead
Beyond figures and models, SembraMedia’s presentation was a collective call to action. They acknowledged structural challenges, risk-laden contexts and the chronic lack of funding as unavoidable realities in Latin America. However, they also offered a message of hope rooted in accumulated experience, successful case studies, and the conviction that sustainability is not a destination, but a daily journey.
Connecting media outlets, encouraging knowledge exchange and supporting journalists in their efforts to maintain viable and ethically sound media is, in Fernandez’s words, a task “vital to society.” In that spirit, SembraMedia continues to build bridges so that independent journalism not only survives, but thrives.