It provides citizens with the information they need to make informed choices. It holds power to account, guards against disinformation, and brings vital public interest stories into the public domain.
It exposes corruption, scandals and official wrongdoing; it acts as a voice for the marginalised and underprivileged, “comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable”, as the old adage puts it. However, the business model which has sustained it for generations is collapsing, as readers and advertisers migrate to the wild west of social media. Meanwhile, regressive laws and state influence over the media grow.
New, innovative ways of financing journalism are evolving, but most are in their infancy.
Against this backdrop, philanthropic funding for independent public interest media is essential, particularly in regions where civic space is restricted and the risk of media capture is high. Civitates is supporting independent media outlets who are forging new ways to thrive in this challenging landscape, organisations which are creating innovative and resilient financial models enabling them to carry out vital, independent and factual public interest journalism.
Build the sustainability of independent public interest media outlets in selected key countries to enable them to consolidate their financial and operational stability and ensure editorial independence.
Enhance the security and resilience of journalists and media outlets facing pressure due to their reporting.
Foster connections among independent media outlets across Europe, creating space for peer-learning and collaboration, and capacity building.
Strengthen the ecosystem of public and private donors actively and significantly committed to supporting independent public interest media across Europe.
