The Brussels media scene is busier by the day. Established outlets like Euractiv continue to evolve, while newcomers such as The Capitol Forum are trying to carve out a space in an already crowded and complex news environment.
A recent LinkedIn discussion brought fresh attention to the EU media bubble, thanks to Aimée Duprat-Macabies, Advocacy and Communications Officer at the Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe. She took on the ambitious task of mapping the various media covering EU affairs, policy, and politics, grouping and categorising them. The conversation quickly gained traction, with over 70 people chiming in, suggesting niche outlets, debating classifications, and adding publications they felt deserved recognition. The response made one thing clear: the Brussels media landscape is as intricate as it is essential.
Brussels hosts national correspondents from nearly every major European outlet—not to mention many from outside Europe—ensuring dedicated EU coverage. At the same time, highly specialised niche publications dissect policies line by line, offering deep dives into sectorial legislations. The media space in the EU bubble has grown significantly, and so have the number of publications that businesses, policymakers, and analysts rely on for insights.
We have created a visual to try to capture a more complex version of the EU media outlets classification, but feel free to suggest improvements as the situation is far from static:
When it comes to the big names, POLITICO Europe, Euractiv and Euronews are the first to come to mind. Euractiv, in particular, has been making moves following a shift in editorial direction and key hires. But the landscape extends well beyond these three.
MLex, the holy bible of legal experts, has broadened its coverage over the years, moving from EU competition law into areas like data privacy and trade. Similarly, Contexte, the French outlet known for its deep policy reporting, has been growing its Brussels presence and recently launched an English-language edition to expand its reach beyond francophone readers.
Then there’s the Financial Times, whose Brussels bureau is one of the strongest in the city, feeding exclusive EU insights into its global reporting. Other well-established EU-focused publications include Agence Europe, one of the oldest in the business; The Parliament Magazine, a monthly; and EUobserver, an independent investigative voice.
In the investigative journalism space, Follow the Money and Investigate Europe deserve a mention. They specialise in in-depth investigations, often working in collaboration with journalists from different countries to uncover major stories and to dive into lobbying practices.
Among the newcomers in Brussels, The Capitol Forum has recently relaunched, showing a growing interest in EU affairs, as well as PaRR. Meanwhile, US-based startup Semafor has been trying to recruit in Brussels, signalling an attempt to break into the EU news bubble.
Beyond the Financial Times, global giants like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian all keep a close watch on EU affairs. Bloomberg and Reuters sit somewhere between international outlets and wire services, while ANSA, AFP, AP, EFE and DPA remain firmly in the wire category.
A final mention goes to Table.Media, a Berlin-based publisher that produces in-depth briefings on EU policy. Its model puts it in the same category as MLex and Contexte, focusing on niche, high-value analysis.
Below, a small selection of ultra niche and trade media outlets reporting on EU policies:
- Netzpolitik.org – Focuses on digital rights, internet policy, surveillance, data protection, and freedom of information.
- NewsTank – Covers sector-specific news, particularly in education and healthcare.
- B2 Bruxelles2 – Focuses on EU foreign policy and defence.
- FORESIGHT Climate & Energy – Reports on EU climate policies and the energy transition.
- Carbon Pulse – Specialises in carbon markets and the EU emissions trading system.
- Tax Notes – Tracks EU tax policy and legislation.
- ENDS Europe – Covers EU environmental policy and its impact on industries.
- Clean Energy Wire – Reports on Europe’s energy transition with a policy focus.
- Mergermarket – Covers mergers, acquisitions and EU regulatory approvals.
The Brussels media landscape is constantly shifting, and this growing diversity reflects an increasing demand for specialised, quality journalism. For media professionals, understanding this ecosystem is essential. The right engagement ensures a message reaches its intended audience, whether policymakers, industry leaders or the wider public. With so much information circulating, knowing where to be heard is what makes the difference.
Camilla Frison, Media Relations Consultant