Journalism Funders Forum publishes “Journalism and Media Funding in Europe”
The Journalism Funders Forum has published “Journalism and Media Funding in Europe”, a new report offering a snapshot of how philanthropic organisations are funding journalism and media in Europe.
The field of journalism and media is widely recognised by funders as essential for democracy, accountability and countering misinformation, but it still receives only a tiny slice of philanthropic budgets. Despite this, there is growing urgency, a slow but visible increase in investment, and a shift toward more flexible, long‑term funding, as the field grapples with a rapidly changing media landscape, unstable business models, and rising threats to independent journalism. The data from this study underlines this context, showing a field that is crucial yet under‑resourced.
Bringing together key findings on funding patterns, priorities and emerging challenges, the report helps build a clearer picture of how philanthropy is supporting journalism and media in a fast-changing environment.
Based on a sample of 36 philanthropic organisations from 12 countries, the report shows that while funding for the field remains relatively limited, it is diverse, evolving and increasingly shaped by concerns around democracy, misinformation and the long-term sustainability of independent journalism. The report highlights a journalism and media field that is varied across different types of actors, content and geographies but accounts for just 3.2% of the total budget of the funders surveyed.
Key takeaways:
- Funding for journalism and media is relatively limited but highly diverse.
- Support is spread widely across different types of actors, content and geographies.
- Protecting democracy and countering misinformation are core motivations for funding.
- The sector is undergoing major changes, creating new challenges for funders and grantees
