Crowdfunding platforms in the political economy of alternative media

Alternative media appeared in the digital environment, taking advantage of the low distribution costs and the potential for public participation. Increasingly, they use crowdfunding or collective financing platforms as a model for maintaining activities. This article maps how alternative media from Portugal, Spain and Brazil articulate crowdfunding platforms with their financing strategies, on the one hand, and with social media platforms, on the other. The study aims to discuss the possibilities and limitations of the different crowdfunding platforms for these means. The methodological design includes personal interviews, online observation about alternative media and a content analysis about their financing and specifically the digital financing platforms. Alternative media articulate their use of crowdfunding platforms with those of social networks, in a constant work of demonstrating the relevance of the type of journalism they practice and their social contribution in search of public involvement as a funder.