Sustainability and Collaboration Dynamics of Spanish Media Cooperatives. An Ecosocial Justice Approach

In light of the current socio-ecological crisis, there is growing interest in alternative forms of organization, such as media cooperatives, which are grounded in social and solidarity economy models. These media outlets have evolved against the tide, often lacking institutional recognition and public resources while relying on inter-cooperation, education, and community engagement being as key factors in their continuity. These sustainability strategies are promoted by the International Cooperative Alliance, enabling cooperatives to move towards eco-social justice. This article analyses the eco-social contribution of the sustainability strategies of Spanish media cooperatives, focusing on education and information, inter-cooperation, and community engagement. It thus provides a novel approach to media sustainability from the perspective of cooperativism and eco-social justice. The dynamics of seven Spanish media cooperatives are described through questionnaires, together with a review of their websites and other documentary sources. A historical-critical approach is adopted, situating the values of these media outlets as an expression of historical and current struggles for eco-social justice. The results show a firm commitment to the cooperative principles as a strategy for the organizational, social and ecological sustainability of media cooperatives in a highly competitive and precarious media landscape.