In an era where media consolidation and hyper-multilingual communities have led to many lacking local reporting, Tervuren+ has stepped in to fill the gap.
Launched in January 2024 at https://tervuren.bravenews.eu and on at https://facebook.com/tervurenplus, the micro-outlet publishes three to four deeply researched, targeted articles each month. With a focus on hyperlocal issues affecting the 23,000 residents of Tervuren — a small Flemish town that is home to people from 116 nationalities — Tervuren+ aims to rebuild the connection between journalism and community.
The project is part of Brave News, a platform that supports nonprofit and hyperlocal media in underserved areas. As people become increasingly mobile and geographically disconnected, maintaining community ties has grown more difficult. Brave News responds by empowering local news with the media reach and visibility in an evolving media landscape.
“News deserts aren't only a rural problem,” said Dafydd ab Iago, founder of Bravenews and Tervuren+. “They exist in cosmopolitan towns like Tervuren with a lack of cohesive local coverage in Dutch and other languages,” said ab Iago, a long-time EU affairs reporter.
With Facebook impressions in January-July 2025 at 250,000, and a corresponding reach of 30-50%, Tervuren+ addresses this by diving deep into local governance, civic initiatives, and cultural developments. Its reporting is designed not just to inform, but to help residents — both newcomers and long-timers — feel more rooted in their town. Tervuren+ has also developed as a WhatsApp news channel at https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaH6eCYFsn0pXGVLF22r currently with just under 500 subscribers.
🎙️Beluister de Tervuren+ podcast via https://www.youtube.com/@TervurenPlus 🎙️
Unlike traditional outlets stretched thin by regional coverage, Tervuren+ dedicates itself to stories that would otherwise go untold, reinforcing democratic engagement and a sense of place. Tervuren+ publishes in Dutch and up to 20 other Belgian, European and non-European languages.
With a growing subscriber base and a commitment to nonprofit journalism, Tervuren+ stands as a model for hyperlocal news innovation — one article at a time.
Explore more at tervuren.bravenews.eu
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