Pala is a non-profit organisation founded by Dirk Barrez, a former journalist at VRT (the national public-service broadcaster for the Flemish community of Belgium). The website was launched after Barrez finished editing his first book on globalisation in 2003.

He is the principal writer but collaborates with experts who offer information voluntarily. The name of the media outlet is inspired by Island, the utopian novel by Aldous Huxley, where a cynical journalist is shipwrecked on the fictional island of Pala.

All the information on Pala is freely accessible, and the media outlet has a newsletter, online videos, and a webshop to buy Barrez's books.

Its funding depends on the sales of Barrez's books, which are all related to globalisation, environmental transition, democracy, cooperatives, and other alternatives. As an energy transition and ecology expert, part of the revenue comes from lectures Barrez gives in schools or within regional organisations and at trade unions' events.

Source: Oasis Europe

Last updated date: November 2025

Location:
Leuven, Belgium
Year the organization started publishing:
2003
Languages:
English
Other
Type of coverage:
International
Countries of coverage:
Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Other
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Other countries of coverage:
Global

Content

Type of content produced by theme:
Science
Environment
Politics
Technology
Economy and business
Journalism genres:
Reviews
Interviews and reporting
Opinion
Investigative journalism
Narrative journalism
Journalism coverage types and techniques:
Breaking news
Data journalism
Solutions or constructive journalism
Explanatory journalism
Fact-checking
Tech platforms and other mediums used:
Website
Newsletter
Print
Primary tech platform or medium used to publish content:
Newsletter

Management and team

Founders

Female:
0
Male:
1
Founders:
Dirk Barrez
Directors:

Team

Full-time employees:
0
Part-time employees:
1
Freelancers or consultants:
0
Volunteers:
4

Business structure and revenue sources

Organization tax status:
Non-profit
All revenue sources reported by media leaders:
Grants
Content services for others
Audience support / reader revenue
Other
Grants or investment from philanthropic organisations
Content development for other non-journalistic companies
Content development for NGOs
Individual donations
The primary source of revenue reported by media leaders:
Individual donations
The second most important revenue source reported:
Other
Others revenue sources:
Book selling, DVD selling via the website, Lectures

Transparency

Doesn’t publish information about annual revenue
Publishes the names of donors
Has an ethics policy / manual
Publishes an ethics policy / manual
Has a data privacy policy
Publishes a data privacy policy
Doesn’t have a whistleblower policy
Doesn’t have a complaints policy
Is signed up to a press regulator, trust initiative, or part of a press association
Publishes up to date information about its team

Why is this profile included?

This media outlet is part of our directory because it meets SembraMedia’s inclusion criteria: it produces original content, serves the public interest, and works with independence and transparency. This profile was developed using information provided directly by the media outlet, through surveys or interviews. We aim to keep the information current, but SembraMedia does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness, and recommends verifying any key details with the media organization.

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