NEWS – Journalism Partnerships – Pluralism

Description

1) Objective

The European news media sectors play a crucial and valuable role in Europe. Yet, they are facing multiple challenges. Partially as a result of the digital shift, with readers shifting to online sources and traditional news outlets losing advertising revenues, the economic sustainability of professional journalism has come under pressure. Many media at the local level as well as those putting their public interest mission before profits, have had to close down, weakening media pluralism and posing risks for the good functioning of democracy.

Topic 2. “Journalism Partnerships – Pluralism”. Besides a purely economic aspect, independent media play a crucial and valuable role in societies and contribute to upholding the essential principles of media freedom and pluralism. This support seeks to protect news media sectors of special relevance to democracy and civic participation, such as local and regional media, community media, investigative journalism and organisations delivering public interest news. Support will target organisations with experience in media to put in cascading grants (i.e. regranting / support to third parties).

Expected results are:

• Increased innovation and creativity in business models, journalistic production processes and distribution processes;
• Increased interest in journalism, among various social groups, language groups and age groups;
• Increased viability of professionally produced journalistic content.
• Increased resilience, pluralism and editorial independence of media sectors at European level, such as local, regional and community media, investigative media or media specialised in public interest topics.
• Increased resilience of organisations active in the news media sectors and protection of the news media landscape.
• Improved uptake of new technologies across the targeted media sectors in as much this contributes to media pluralism and a diverse media landscape.
• Fostering repositories of knowledge about media sectors delivering public interest news (e.g. by detecting areas with low provision of high-quality content and/or in which media pluralism is strained).
  Activities that can be funded

2) Eligibility

Eligible applicants are legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries.

3) Location

Actions must take place in EU member states plus listed EEA countries.

4) Budget

The estimated available call budget is €11,000,000.

5) Application

Deadline for applications is 14 February 2024. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System (accessible via the Topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section. Paper submissions are NOT possible.