Mutual benefits: a new generation of journalism cooperatives

Journalism cooperatives - where the journalists, and sometimes the readers, own the business, share the profits, and take part in decision-making - have long been a viable, if niche option for journalists. But with the independence, quality and sustainability of journalistic enterprises under pressure and threat as never before, might cooperatives provide a viable model for a wider range of independent media? Cooperative models of ownership and governance by journalists and readers are finding a foothold in a growing number of countries. With examples from Belgium, Egypt, Greece and Scotland (and more we're tracking at twitter.com/media_coops), we'll ask what a journalism cooperative really looks like, and how it actually works. What can a cooperative model offer journalism in terms of revenue, engagement and resilience, and what impact does it have on quality, ethics and trust?