As the ways in which we use the web change, a number of industries have struggled to maintain viable revenue streams. Journalism in particular has laboured, as ad-supported models are hindered by the widespread use of ad-blockers and centralised social media platforms. These difficulties, of course, extend to music and music journalism too – countless publications have folded in recent years, and those that remain continue to struggle.

Civil offers an interesting proposition that aims to alleviate these challenges. A “community-owned journalism network based on transparency and trust,” it hosts a number of newsrooms in hopes of fostering ethical, sustainable journalism. Ursula O'Kuinghttons will speak about Civil's efforts to develop a new crypto-economic model for journalism using blockchain technology.