Journalism Funders Forum

The sudden freeze on USAID funding has sent shockwaves through independent newsrooms across Europe. With grants halted and uncertainty looming, many smaller outlets face closure, while larger ones brace for financial strain. As autocratic leaders may seize the moment to tighten control, experts are calling on European institutions and private donors to fill the sudden gap and prevent long-term damage to media pluralism.

Grande successo della prima giornata del 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 - l'evento organizzato quest'anno a Firenze da Philea - Philanthropy Europe Association e #Assifero su “𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞” - dedicato al contesto italiano che ha visto confrontarsi, in plenarie e lavori di gruppo, fondazioni ed enti del Terzo Settore sui temi della dis/informazione in Italia e di come la filantropia possa sostenere il giornalismo d'inchiesta indipendente. 🔸Grazie ai contributi dei media indipendenti e delle realtà che lavorano ogni giorno per una stampa libera e di qualità IrpiMedia #FadaCollective The Good Lobby Italia MareaMedia #MediaForwardFund #MacroscopeLondon 🔸Grazie alle testimonianze dei nostri soci che hanno raccontato come si interfacciano con il mondo dei media Voice Over Foundation #FondazioneUmbertoVeronesi #FondazioneCharlemagne. 🔸Grazie infine a Oak Foundation per averci raccontato come una grande fondazione opera a livello strategico e operativo per sostenere la libertà di stampa e di diritti di parola di tutti.

While donor support is often essential for independent media, #donordependency creates significant risks. Together with Anya Schiffrin, I shared my thoughts for the latest issue of the Journalism Funders Forum. Link: https://lnkd.in/dZRiHTaj Thank you Robert Nemeth and Media and Journalism Research Center for this kind opportunity. #donors #mediadevelopment #professionalmedia #independentmedia

Donor dependency, wherein media outlets rely heavily on external grants, has become a major challenge for independent media. This has become particularly common among independent media operating in challenging environments where alternative revenue streams are scarce. While crucial for the survival of many outlets, it comes with substantial risks, as the recent freeze on US funding has demonstrated. Experts emphasise the need for revenue diversification to ensure long-term sustainability. Read the full breakdown here!

A great interview by our colleague Robert Nemeth for the Journalism Funders Forum with Martin Kotynek, Founding Director of the Media Forward Fund! Martin discusses the urgent "need for sustainable business models in journalism to strengthen democracy, shares insights into their funding approach supporting user-centric independent media in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and highlights the growing importance of pooled funds." This interview was selected for the Journalism Funders Forum's newsletter, produced by Media and Journalism Research Center in a partnership with Philea - Philanthropy Europe Association. More below! https://lnkd.in/dFDPzPYx

"I believe this campaign wasn’t just about subscriber growth – it was a statement. It proved that people still value quality journalism, that they’re willing to pay for it, and that strong reader communities can be mobilised to protect independent media. The challenge for all of us in the industry is clear: we must continue proving that journalism is worth supporting by making it indispensable, by making it participatory, and by making it a cause people want to invest in." Veronika Munk, Director of Innovation and New Markets at Denník N, shares insights into the outlet’s recent, highly successful campaign to generate new subscribers, the main takeaways from the campaign and their plan for the next big question, retention. Read the full article here!

The media industry faces various challenges due to digital disruption and declining trust. While scepticism toward the media is not new, the pandemic accelerated its decline. A 2023 survey conducted in Austria with 1,000 participants investigated the relationship between media trust and consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for online news in the post-pandemic era. The results indicate a strong correlation between media trust and both WTP and actual media expenditure. This highlights the importance of trust in securing financial sustainability for media organisations. As free content dominates the digital landscape, media companies must rebuild trust to encourage consumers to pay for credible news. Read the full story on the dynamics between trust in the media and the willingness to pay here!

Thanks Journalism Funders Forum for being interested in Denník N’s successful subscriber campaign! I summarized our strategy and what we learned: 5 key takeaways for the industry:

"We want to contribute to more quality journalism with strong business models. Right now, there is a big transformation crisis happening in the media, and we want to support the development of new business models that make journalism more sustainable in the long term. Through that, we want to strengthen democracies in our societies, which are also right now in a crisis. " We spoke with Martin Kotynek, Founding Director of the Media Forward Fund, on the need for sustainable business models in journalism to strengthen democracy, his insights on their funding model for user-centric independent media in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and the growing role of pooled funds. Find out what he had to say below!

Repressive legislation, such as foreign agent laws in Central and Eastern Europe, is being used to intimidate independent outlets and deter international funding. At the same time, the philanthropic landscape is shifting, with some foundations sunsetting their journalism programmes, leaving behind a gap that no single funder can fill. The Journalism Funders Forum annual gathering 2025 will explore “Funding Journalism in a Shifting Landscape” across two days this April in Florence, Italy. Whether you're an Italian funder working on local media, or an international funder working across Europe, register here!