The European Commission launched a new call for proposals to support transnational consortia of media organisations. The aim is to foster media transformation, trustworthy reporting and skills for news media professionals, for instance by developing media production standards, new business models, new types of newsrooms and journalistic formats, sharing of best practices, etc.
The available budget this year is EUR 6.9 million. Each project will be granted a maximum of EUR 2 million. The maximum co-financing rate is 80% of the total eligible costs. This means that applicants need to co-finance their projects.
Timeline
Applicants can send proposals until 4 February 2026. Proposals will be evaluated in the spring, and results will be communicated in the summer of 2026. Projects are expected to start towards the end of 2026 and last 24 months.
Who can apply?
Consortia may include non-profit, public and private media outlets (including written/online press, radio/podcasts, TV, etc) as well as other organisations focusing on news media (including media associations, NGOs, journalistic funds and training organisations focusing on media professionals, etc).
Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have a legal personality separate from that of the natural person).
How many partners should compose the consortia?
Consortia must gather at least 3 partners from at least 3 different countries participating in the Creative Europe Programme. Since the opening intends to achieve sector-wide impacts, proposals are invited to involve as many news media as possible in their activities.
Find inspiration in funded projects under the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 calls for proposals.
