What began informally in 1983 that was meant to provide a universal cultural space for Europeans has morphed over the years from an original concept of furthering intelligent discourse amongst Europe’s culturally savvy population to a vast media amalgamation functioning simultaneously. Eurozine’s network emerged out of the first meeting attended by various European cultural journals and magazines interested in sharing experiences and opinions which was held in Vienna, Austria in 1995. The first of its kind, the meeting attracted many publications including many eastern European magazines that went previously unnoticed and unspoken for. Because of this obvious success and the rapid growth and convenience of the Internet, the participating editors were prompted to create a tangible and communicative network of cultural journals that could exist year round. Eurozine was therefore born in 1998. Today, Eurozine hosts the European Meeting of Cultural Journals each year together with one or more of its partners. Eurozine’s founding members are Mittelweg 36 (Hamburg), Kritika & Kontext (Bratislava), Ord&Bild (Göteborg), Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais (Coimbra), Transit-Europäische Revue (Vienna), and Wespennest (Vienna).

This has evolved into the creation of the ‘Eurozine Review’. Every two weeks the publication gathers current issues of the more than 70 magazines published throughout 34 countries in the Eurozine partner network. The current issue, Let’s Consider Cute, is featuring Index On Censorship, Dilema Veche, Osteuropa, Le Monde Diplomatique-Berlin and Oslo, Wespennest, Mute, Espirit, Varlik, Akadeemia, Semicerchio. Abstracts from the review from each publication is available at www.eurozine.com/articles/2009-03-24-eurozinerev-en.html.

The success and intelligence behind Eurozine is that it employs an innovative approach in connecting Europe through the bond of a similar sense of cultural value. This publication and Web site creates an effective platform for cultural journals of all varied backgrounds to connect and communicate. It also promotes the existence of such journals because often niche publications slip through the media cracks. Eurozine enforces the idea that these publication provide material worthy of publication that are fresh and thought-provoking. This propels that idea that Europe and its readers should invest their time and remain attentive to these publications. By building this new brand of media openness, a more developed and dialectical way of thinking and debating can be fostered through the public domain amongst a transnational level.

By publishing every two weeks, Eurozine can simultaneously keep readers and fellow publications updated without bombarding their audience. Since every issue rotates and spotlights new member publications, there is no redundancy of material. Eurozine is reminiscent of a handy pocketbook listing that one can tote around whenever, wherever. To learn more or learn how to purchase/subscribe, go to www.eurozine.com.