Brussels time
Creative Europe is the EU’s funding programme for providing support to the culture and audiovisual sectors.
This topic will support organisations active in media in setting up supporting schemes for news media organisations and independent journalism
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. Media pluralism has also been weakened over the years: many media at the local level as well as those putting their public interest mission before profits, have had to close down, posing risks for the good functioning of democracy.
Topic 2. “Journalism Partnerships - Pluralism”. This topic will support organisations active in media insetting up supporting schemes for news media organisations and independent journalism, as well as other capacity-building measures. These actions, notably third-party support, will target media active in sectors of special relevance to democracy and civic participation, such as local and regional media, community media, independent and investigative journalism and other organisations delivering public interest news.
Applicants must present, develop and implement funding schemes focusing on independent media and organisations primarily active in one or more of these sectors, in view of the role the latter play in enhancing democracy, shaping the public debate and bringing benefits to their audiences and communities, instead of focusing on profit.
These funding schemes shall take the form of financial support to third parties. They will cover as many areas and news media organisations as possible. They shall focus on activities that contribute to sustaining, improving or transforming the work of the targeted parties. Activities can consist of:
- Editorial production, coverage and innovations
- The development of governance standards and editorial oversights
- The improvement of distribution and dissemination of news
- The development and engagement of audiences
- The development or maintenance of technical tools applying to the above topics
- Training on the above topics, legal advice and sectorial events
In addition to funding schemes, applicants can propose capacity building measures benefitting their chosen sector/s (e.g. development of deontological standards, budgetary readiness, development of criteria and indicators framing their support, repositories of knowledge, legal advice or trainings of journalists for example on how to address cases of unfounded court proceedings against public participation).
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
The action is open to civil society organisations which are active in the news media sector (incl. media associations, NGOs, journalistic funds and training organisations focusing on media professionals, etc). These organisations should be in a position to set up third party support schemes targeting news media outlets, organisations and journalists, and in ways that enhance pluralistic media landscapes across the Union. Consortia are allowed.
The applicant must fulfil all of the following (if the proposal is submitted by a consortium, the following conditions should be fulfilled by at least one partner):
a. have recent proven experience in implementing media-related activities;
b. have recent proven experience in awarding and managing grants/or funds, in particular in the media sector.
Applications by single applicants are allowed (single beneficiaries), as well as proposals submitted by a consortium of at least 2 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities).
EUR 3.000.000 per project
Projects should not normally exceed 24 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment).
Brussels time
