Pikara Magazine

In 2010, four journalists from the Basque Country committed to feminism decided to found a non-profit association and edit Pikara Magazine, a digital media outlet that would address the political, economic, social, and cultural reality from a feminist perspective. "We do feminist, critical, transgressive, and enjoyable journalism," the organisation states on its website.

One of the main goals of Pikara Magazine was "to break away from the traditional feminist media outlets, very thoughtful, focused on criticism," its coordinator Andrea Momoitio said. "We have also added colour and fun".

The team is based in Bilbao and currently comprises six full-time women. The organisation has a free-access website, a printed yearbook, and four printed and three digital monographs annually. Its primary source of revenue is its 2,351 members, with 40% of its audience coming from outside Spain, mainly from Mexico and Argentina. In addition, the organisation receives revenue from the distribution of printed publications, products such as tote bags, advertising, and advisory services.

According to Momoitio, one of the main lessons learned is that it is necessary to pay attention not only to content but also to the organisation's management, planning and processes. "You are always tempted to hire more journalists, but incorporating management profiles has been fundamental for us," the coordinator said. Every three years, the team stops publishing and dedicates one month to strategic reflection.

In one of these reflections, the team decided to organise its way of publishing. "Until then, we published the contents on the website without any criteria, as they were ready," Momoitio said. "We decided to update the website every Wednesday at noon with between nine and 15 new stories."

Pikara Magazine has received awards such as the EU Journalist Award Together against discrimination in 2011, as well as an award from the Asociación de Mujeres Periodistas de Catalunya in 2014.

Last updated: January 2023