For Divergente’s small newsroom the award for Excellence and Innovation in Visual Digital Storytelling by Online Journalism Awards and the nomination for the Digital Media Award by Prix Europa came as an exciting recognition for their work. Civitates started supporting Divergente in 2021 with a core grant and has seen the team and their ambitions about their independent multimedia investigative and narrative newsroom grow.
The organisation focuses on investigating stories that scrutinise power and portray contemporary social and public interest issues that are underrepresented or misrepresented in other media. Their work and approaches to creating communities of their audience members through engaging them in public discussions are unique to Portugal.
A vibrant civil society is a key ingredient for democracy. Both NGOs and more informal movements help us make sure that governments are taking decisions that consider all of us. Such civil society groups allow us to join our voices together and make ourselves heard so we can speak regularly to our elected representatives and ensure they provide the appropriate support and care to everyone. Civil society keeps people in power on their toes.
The public sphere is a forum through which information is distributed and where citizens inform themselves, gather, share ideas and content, form opinions, voice their concerns, and mobilise.
Digital technology and social media have fundamentally changed the way information is produced, distributed, and consumed. This expansion of the public sphere has brought with it a set of opportunities and challenges.
Journalism plays a vital role in a democratic society. Often referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy, it provides a platform for dialogue and debate, helping individuals to form their opinions and participate as informed citizens in democratic processes. It also monitors governmental and corporate (in)actions, holding those in power to account. As research has shown, the health of independent media is linked to the health of democracy, with each powering the other.
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Email: secretariat@civitates-eu.org
