This document discusses civic media projects and their relationship to the public sphere. It identifies three main functions of civic media within the public sphere model: 1) Strengthening discussion and engagement between citizens in the public sphere; 2) Facilitating communication between the public sphere and the state to influence policymaking; and 3) Increasing transparency from the state to citizens to improve oversight and trust. The goal of this classification is not to explain every civic media project, but to identify common functions they can serve in relation to the public sphere and democratic processes.