The Networks

We create and coordinate networks to promote and facilitate cross-border collaborative journalism.

Our strategy is to focus on topics of particular relevance and to take advantage of the Dataharvest conference to bring together potential network members – investigative journalists, data experts, other researchers – around a specialised track about the topic selected by the editorial team each year.

When possible, we join forces with existing organisations with the aim of spinning off the resulting functioning network.

Climate Arena Network


Launched in 2022, this network puts issues concerning food and water on the European agenda while at the same time establishing the connection with citizens on a local level.

Reference – the European Independent Media Circle


Reference is a self-organised network of independent European news publishers.

The network supports each other to address non-editorial organisational and business challenges, and advocate collectively for the wellbeing and financial sustainability of independent, public interest media in Europe.

It is currently being incubated by Arena.

Arena Labour Network

This is our newest network, in the early stages of emerging. The Labour Network focuses on cross-border investigations into European labour issues.

Arena Food & Water Network


Launched in 2022, this network puts issues concerning food and water on the European agenda while at the same time establishing the connection with citizens on a local level.

The Algorithm Network


Launched in 2018, this network is now being coordinated by AlgorithmWatch

The Arena Housing Project


The Arena Housing Project was an open collaborative network for journalists and researchers working on housing across Europe.

It is now the Urban Journalism Network.