Deadline: 27-Apr-23
The Journalismfund.eu is seeking applications for Fonds Pascal Decroos (FPD) Low Countries.
Democracy and qualitative (local) media are under pressure these days. On the one hand more and more global problems are pushed towards local governments and cities (e.g. migration, climate, employment, education, housing, mobility,) and its citizens (e.g. socialisation in healthcare, emphasised individual environmental responsibilities, etc.).
On the other hand reliable local information – necessary for making qualitative and informed decisions – is not available because in many cities in Europe (including Belgium and The Netherlands) there is a decrease of investigative journalism on the local level. As a result, democratic participation is undermined.
The aim of this project
- With this project, Journalismfund.eu aims at addressing the shortage of local independent journalism by awarding grants to local investigative journalistic projects in Belgium and the Netherlands and by stimulating the cross-border collaboration. In this way, cities in Belgium and the Netherlands could mutually strengthen each other (e.g. by forming each other’s benchmark) and as such increase the impact of the supported publications.
- This project aims at strengthening local cross-border, independent and investigative journalism in order to increase the availability of qualitative local news, and at making citizens more aware of local – and often interrelated and global – issues and possible solutions. As such it aims to contribute to citizens’ critical thinking, well-informed debates/decisions and to foster civic engagement.
Objectives and philosophy
- The aim of the Grant Programmes of Journalismfund.eu is facilitating investigative, cross-border and independent journalism in order to promote democracy in Europe by connecting donors and journalists without endangering the journalists’ independence.
- The project will be one that, in principle, could not be realised within the remit of regular journalism – a project of great newsworthiness and depth that is simultaneously original, innovative and time-consuming.
- The grants are completely independent from commercial interests. Financing comes from different sources and for the most part from several international foundations and the Flemish government. Journalismfund.eu safeguards the independence of the grantees from the donors and also guarantees that the grants are completely unrelated to political influence. Journalismfund.eu ’s fundraising is conducted according to the following key principles: full transparency, independence and no editorial interference. (Representatives from) donors can never be part of the juries that award the grants. Journalismfund.eu does not take money from donors that don’t agree with these terms. For more information about their funding policy, they refer to their Ethical Funding Policy.
- Journalismfund.eu is assisted by an International Advisory Board. The International Advisory Board, together with Journalismfund.eu, ensures that the grant initiatives contribute to the facilitation of independent investigative journalism in Europe and beyond.
Funding Information
- For this round there’s €80.000 available. The funds come from the Flemish Government (Department of Culture, Youth and Media).
What the grant money can be used for?
- Grants can cover working time and out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, visa, accommodation, translation, fixers, access to pay-databases, FOI requests, legal screening, etc.,
- Only freelance journalists can apply for a grant to cover their working time. Employed staff journalists can only apply for a working grant if they can provide a reason and prove that they are not receiving any wages for their working time on this project.
- Following expenses cannot be covered by the grants: investments goods (such as IT equipment, mobile phones, software,), production costs, food and beverage, per diems, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
- Teams of investigative journalists (starters and seniors) from at least The Netherlands AND Belgium who have good ideas for a local cross-border investigation in that region. When relevant for the story, team members from elsewhere can be accepted, too.
- Only natural persons are eligible for a grant. Depending on the Grant Programme restrictions can be made based on the residency of the applicant(s).
- The applicant(s) must be working as professional journalists. Furthermore, references from individuals (editors, publishers, journalists, professors) and/or references to earlier work are essential. Journalismfund.eu reserves the right to contact references (while respecting the confidentiality of the proposal).
For more information, visit FPD.