Independent public interest media is a core pillar of liberal democracies, a protection against disinformation and a vital counterpower to political and corporate interests. A sustainable and diverse ecosystem of independent public-interest media organisations is essential in Europe to provide reliable news and information, foster robust public debate, and empower people to engage in and strengthen democratic processes and institutions.
For the second time since it was established, Civitates is launching an open a call for proposals for independent media outlets. We are welcoming proposals from media organisations registered in Hungary, Poland, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Croatia.
The overall objective of the call is to support independent public interest media outlets to build their sustainability and to consolidate their operational stability allowing them to produce quality public interest journalism. Civitates strengthens media by supporting them on their growth path with a specific focus on organizational strengthening, business model development, editorial development, audience engagement and outreach. We also support media outlets to enhance their contribution to a respectful and balanced public dialogue. The call for proposals is focused on media resilience and sustainability. Applicants should outline their priorities for the upcoming two years reflecting on their plans concerning the five main development areas listed above and describe how they would benefit from Civitates’ support as a temporary boost. Applicants should present why core funding is necessary for the organization and how this funding will be used to advance the mid-term goals of the organization.
In this call for proposals, Civitates will support up to 8 media outlets (at least one from each eligible country). The maximum amount awarded per organisation will be €160,000 for two years and the grant amount may not exceed half of the applicants’ total spending in 2024.
The application process is structured into two phases. In the first phase applicants are invited to submit a concise concept note along with a preliminary budget. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a fully developed proposal, including a detailed budget in the second phase.
For more information on eligibility and selection criteria as well as the project, please carefully read the full application guideline available here.
The deadline for submitting concept notes is 2nd March, 2025 23:59 (CET).
Applications should be submitted through the Network of European Foundation’s Optimy portal accessible here. Any submission by email will not be considered.
You can access all documents for the call here:
We will compile an Frequently Asked Question (FAQ), which will be available soon.
All prospective applicants are cordially invited to participate in an information webinar on Civitates’ Independent Public Interest Journalism program on 17 February, 2025 between 12.00 and 13.00 (CET) for an opportunity to ask questions on the modalities of the call for proposals.
If you missed the info session, a recording is available here.
