Here you'll find answers to our most frequently asked  questions .

Publix is a centre of innovation for journalism, civil society, and opinion formation. 

It is a space where journalism and the role of journalists in democracy are reimagined while cross-border solutions are developed to help overcome the crisis of public information and opinion formation. 

To that end, Publix offers a diverse program: events, workshops and projects at the Publix building are geared toward professionals in journalism, civil society, academia, and politics, as well as toward interested members of the public more generally. All current dates can be found in our events calendar. 

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Our modern facilities include offices for around 30 editorials and civil society organizations that contribute professionally to strengthening journalism and democracy. 

Further services offered by Publix include co-working spaces, fully equipped studios for video and audio production, event spaces, meeting and conference rooms, and guest rooms on the 5th floor. 

The Publix canteen is open to all visitors daily: from 8 am to 5 pm for coffee and snacks, and from 12 pm to 2:30 pm for hot meals and salads. 

Publix also hosts events, staging specialised conferences and workshops for professionals in media and civil society. With book launches and panel discussions, a reading group titled “Shared Reading”, as well as workshops for kids, teenagers, and adults, Publix aims to inform people about journalism and its meaning for democracy while also fostering editorial skills.  

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Publix was launched by the Schöpflin Foundation. Established by entrepreneur and investor, Hans Schöpflin, the foundation has been supporting independent media for a thriving democracy since 2010. In terms of journalism, the Schöpflin Foundation supports nonprofit media outlets such as Correctiv and the Netzwerk Recherche association. Between 2016 and 2024, the Schöpflin Foundation invested around 25 million euros in the planning, construction, furnishing, and equipping of the Publix building.

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• We want to strengthen journalism and its essential role of disseminating information and fostering public understanding in our society.
• We want to ensure that everyone has access to reliable information as well as the chance to participate in public discourse.
• We want to strengthen social cohesion while countering digital violence.
• We want to respond to the technological developments that are threatening democracy.
• We want to support those in the media whose work informs, inspires, and opens up new perspectives for their audiences. 

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Publix itself is a non-profit limited liability company (gGmbH). We finance the majority of our operations through our own revenue, complemented by grants and funding. A significant share of our budget comes from the use of our infrastructure: organizations and coworkers in the building pay monthly fees for workspaces, event, workshop, and production spaces, as well as accommodation in our guesthouse. These revenues are supplemented by support from the  Schöpflin Foundation, the Stiftung Mercator Schweiz, and the Zeit Stiftung Bucerius, as well as donations from our circle of friends. Together, these sources secure the operation of our house.

Additional funding is used specifically for editorial and programmatic initiatives, such as the Tech Journalism Fellowship, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, and the Nina Grunenberg Fellowship, supported by the Wübben Foundation, ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS, and the Schöpflin Foundation. The development of the white paper “Paths Out of the Media Crisis – Public-Interest Journalism as a Model for the Future” was also financed by four foundations from across the DACH region.

In 2025, Publix’s total budget amounted to approximately €2.5 million.

• 58% revenue from the use of offices and other infrastructure
• 30% funding from the Schöpflin Foundation
• 12% donations and grants

Our financial structure is designed to consistently translate economic revenue into public-benefit impact. This also means that non-profit organizations can use the infrastructure at reduced rates, while commercial users pay market-standard prices. In this way, we create the foundation for the long-term financial sustainability of Publix.

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We want to become an integral part of the neighbourhood. As part of this, we have already sent letters to 1,000 neighbours, inviting them to our open house days, twice. One project that is helping us organise this day is the neighbourhood newspaper ‘Donauwelle’ – a citizen journalism project that we were also able to support with funding this year. In March 2025, we also launched our ‘Pipe Up!’ writing workshop at two schools in Neukölln, in collaboration with the ‘Weiterschreiben!’ initiative. Participating students learn to work with media and express their own thoughts – with images, text and sound. We will continue the programme in the autumn, and other schools are interested in joining. We also engage adults in the neighbourhood: through ‘Shared Reading’, Publix offers regular meetings to discuss literature and read together.

Would you like to know more? Then write to hello@publix.de. 

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Organisations that have long-term office spaces at Publix are referred to as residents. Their selection is based on their professional contribution to strengthening journalism, civil society, and political opinion making. Other important criteria include international networks, links to academia and politics, technological expertise, or unique access to hard-to-reach audiences. Office spaces are allocated by request or recommendation. 

Publix is currently home to: 

• Knowledge providers who supply journalists, editorials, and civil society with resources and skills
• Journalists that conduct research, which they then compile and arrange for their target audiences
• Organisations that provide educational opportunities to promote media and news literacy
• Human rights organisations that defend the rights of journalists and citizens

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All of the residents are independent companies or organizations. They have their offices in the Publix building and share the on-site infrastructure with other users, such as the meeting rooms, the event spaces, and the audio and video studios.  

Their focus areas, methods, and target groups are quite distinct, as are the means by which they are financed. Some of the organisations are for-profit while others are supported by foundations or private donations. 

To support their work, Publix regularly offers them opportunities for knowledge transfer and exchange in terms of their respective experience. Participation is entirely voluntary. You can find more information about these opportunities here.

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Publix thrives on people talking about our mission and the offerings of the house, and making active use of our services. Our events calendar features a wide range of events to which you are warmly invited. Come visit us and join the discussion. To stay up to date, you can visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, or follow us on social media on Mastodon, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

You can also support Publix's mission by using our co-working spaces, our event venues, our beautiful guest house for overnight stays or our studios. We finance a large part of our operations from these revenues. 

To finance our projects, we also regularly talk to institutional sponsors, such as charitable foundations and lotteries, as well as partners from public institutions and research. Our fundraising team always welcomes information about funding opportunities and potential collaborations. If you would like to support us with a larger donation, Friends of Publix is the right place for you. 

Would you like to know more? Then write to lea.bayer@publix.de. 

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