Brusselse Nieuwe

Brusselse Nieuwe is an independent digital news platform founded in September 2021. Founders Bert van Slooten and Marieke van Doorn perceived a need for and interest in news related to the European Union.Van Slooten used to work for the Dutch broadcaster NOS and established a newsletter covering European matters. "We want to direct attention to news from the EU," van Slooten says. "It is easy for policymakers and media to blame 'Brussels' for a variety of things, but we think it is important to inform people about what is actually going on there."Starting a new platform, however, takes effort. Says Van Slooten: "Coming from a public broadcaster, I was not used to thinking commercially. And as it turns out, it's not that easy. We've had to build up all the structures ourselves. Where do you get your news? A stable readership? How to make the organisation financially sustainable?"The platform aims not to "be influenced by anyone" and relies on as many different sources of revenue as possible to continue to offer independent news: memberships, donations, subsidies and grants, advertising, and investments.