Deadline: 23-Mar-25
The Media Forward Fund, in cooperation with the Wissenschaftspressekonferenz e.V. (WPK), has launched its grant opportunity to support media organizations oriented towards the common good with the market launch of an untested, and thus new, offering, format, distribution channel or revenue source in order to validate or refine their respective business model.
These projects close a gap in science or data journalism reporting and ideally rely on approaches that differ from existing methods commonly used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH region) and/or in their own market. A particular focus here is on the participatory or interactive involvement or reaching of target groups that have thus far been underserved by the news media.
Funding Information
- For small, non-profit media organizations serving the common good, the Fund generally awards project funding of up to 75,000 euros for one year.
- Duration: 12 months
Who they fund?
- A media organization or its project is eligible to receive funding if all of the following requirements are met:
- The organization’s registered headquarters are in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
- Your organization does not have more than 30 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs).
- The organization must serve the common good. This means that the revenues produced by its work are predominantly generated with the intention of strengthening journalism in its social mission of promoting public education and strengthening democracy.
- Your work is based on recognized journalistic/editorial standards, which you document publicly (or plan to do so). You are committed to the principles of the press code in your country. If applicable, you also have established guidelines for media cooperations with scientific institutes.
- Your proposed project is a new offering, format, distribution channel or revenue source in the field of science or data journalism that your organization has not yet tested on the market.
- You are able to demonstrate the science or data journalism qualifications of the designated member of the project leadership team in addition to previous collaboration (e.g. contractual or freelance basis).
Ineligible
- The Media Forward Fund currently cannot award grants to:
- Schools, universities or public research institutes
- Publicly funded media outlets
- Interest groups
- Sole proprietorship or individuals who are not part of an organization
- Service and technology providers
- Platforms that primarily curate third-party journalistic content
- PR or news agencies
- Production companies
- Organizations or projects that are still in the concept or startup phase
For more information, visit Media Forward Fund.