Mediahuis strengthens its European ambition with the acquisition of pan-European Euractiv Media Network

Press Release

[11 May 2023] – European media group Mediahuis has acquired Euractiv, the pan-European news brand, focused on EU policy. For Mediahuis, as a news publisher present in Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg and Germany, the acquisition means an expansion of its portfolio to include for the first time a pan-European news brand. The Euractiv media network will benefit from the scale of an international media group, allowing it to become THE leading media on EU policy. This acquisition builds on a shared European vision and values to deliver continuity and complementarity.

Euractiv covers EU policy across eight ‘hubs’: agrifood, economy, energy and environment, global Europe, health, politics, technology and transport. Euractiv’s news content is produced in 13 languages by journalists based in Brussels, Paris and Berlin, complemented by media network partners across Europe. 

Competition for EU policy coverage is growing, mainly from outside the EU. Within Mediahuis group, Euractiv will benefit from the scale of an international group: deeper knowledge and expertise, for example in terms of technology. This will allow Euractiv to fully leverage the goodwill towards its brand and its unique, continent-wide network to grow towards its full potential.

For Mediahuis, the acquisition of Euractiv marks a new step in its intensive and successful growth path since 2013, with its ambition to grow into a leading European media group.

Gert Ysebaert, CEO Mediahuis group: “EU politics and policymaking are fundamental in today’s society and affect millions of Europeans. Hence the importance of strong, independent and pluralistic European coverage. Euractiv has succeeded in building a promising news brand and has become a trusted source of information for EU policymakers, interest groups and other media. Firmly rooted in European society,  Euractiv’s journalism, journalistic teams and values are a great addition to Mediahuis’ news brand portfolio. We share the same European vision and I am proud to welcome Euractiv as the first international brand to our Mediahuis family. I look forward to further leveraging the Euractiv brand, with David Mekkaoui as CEO and the talented teams at Euractiv.”

Christophe Leclercq, Euractiv founder: “Euractiv is joining Mediahuis: a group becoming one of Europe’s media champions.  Across Europe, Euractiv editors and publishers are motivated by five values: media independence, transparency, constructive, languages, pro-European. As the EU prepares its Media Freedom Act and the 2024 elections, and as disinformation rises, some sector consolidation is required: cross-border cooperation does sustain pluralism. I trust Mediahuis to respect Euractiv’s values. We started quite differently – Mediahuis by publishing national and regional newspapers, and Euractiv as an online venture: this European Vision brings us together.”

For more information and interviews, please contact:

Mediahuis
An Steylemans | Head of Mediahuis Group Communications
an.steylemans@mediahuis.be |  +32 (0)473 55 71 48

Euractiv (and introductions to Euractiv media network partners)
Chris Powers | Euractiv Director of Communications
chris.powers@euractiv.com | @Chris2Powers 

MEDIALAB & Euractiv Founder
Christophe Leclercq | Euractiv Founder
fondateur@europemedialab.eu  | + 32 (0)2 226 58 13   |  @LeclercqEU

About Euractiv

Euractiv’s news content is produced by journalists throughout Europe, complemented by the Euractiv network, working in 13 languages. Partners across Europe add national angles to the ‘Brussels perspective’ on EU news and policy debates, as well as translating and ‘localising’ the coverage to fit the needs of national readers. The news from across Europe is brought together in Euractiv’s flagship daily newsletter, The Capitals. 

The company Euractiv Media Network BV is administered from the Netherlands, with a subsidiary in Brussels, editorial offices Paris, Berlin, and a brand franchised to affiliates. Franchised network partners include specialised media under the joint brand,  larger media companies that are co-branding with Euractiv, and also the think tank Europe’sMediaLab (Fondation Euractiv). (MediaLab is chaired by Christophe Leclercq, who intends to use most of his future proceeds from the transaction to fight disinformation and support media innovation, building on the existing Stars4media NEWS programme, so far mainly EU-funded).

Euractiv’s revenue model supports independence by being diversified. Sponsorship, advertising, public-funded projects, events, and a jobsite all help to support free content. Subscription from users pay for premium products. Roughly 200 people work ‘under the yellow brand’, in total. They reach 1.8 million readers every month,  with 3.9 million pageviews.
For more information: https://www.euractiv.com/about-euractiv. 

About Mediahuis

Mediahuis is one of the leading European media groups, with operations in Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg and Germany. As a publisher, Mediahuis believes unconditionally in independent journalism and strong and relevant media that makes a positive contribution for people and society. From this vision, Mediahuis is continuously investing in its brands, both printed and digital. Since its creation in 2013, Mediahuis has built a highly diversified portfolio of news media and digital brands.

Its national and regional news titles include De Standaard and Nieuwsblad in Belgium, NRC and De Telegraaf in the Netherlands, the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent in Ireland, Luxemburger Wort in Luxembourg and the Aachener Zeitung in Germany, delivering daily news to more than 10 million readers, both digital and in print.

In addition to these news brands, Mediahuis operates a number of important digital marketplaces in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Ireland, in particular in the domains of real estate, the job and recruitment market and the automotive market. With about 4,600 employees, Mediahuis has an annual turnover of more than €1.2 billion. 

More information: http://www.mediahuis.com/en

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Opinion piece by Euractiv founder Christophe Leclercq

Euractiv joins Mediahuis group: Why media sector consolidation is necessary