Pan-European Audiovisual Reporting Program

Deadline: 24-May-24

The European Commission (EC) has announced a call for proposals to enhance the quantity, quality and impact of independent audiovisual reporting on EU affairs by pan-European media outlets in as many languages and EU member states as possible.

Applicants are expected to produce and disseminate audiovisual content using both traditional and new media formats and distribution channels. They must adhere to European editorial standards, implement a shared pan-European branding and outreach strategy, and encourage exchanges of opinions and debates on key topics affecting European citizens.

Topics

• Topic 1. Production and broadcasting of programmes and reports on EU affairs, including activities and policies of the EU institutions.
  • Objectives
    • This topic provides support for the production and broadcasting of programmes focusing on the policies and activities of the EU and its institutions, as well as European themes from a European perspective.
    • Applicants should concentrate on daily and weekly tv programming, digital formats and news items. Proposals must outline the main formats proposed, including production methods, duration, frequency, editorial and technical aspects, number of languages and dissemination strategies.
    • The topic aims to result in a common content offer available in multiple languages and Member states under shared-EU branding and editorial arrangements. It topic may also include support for coverage provided by correspondents across the Union, i.e. reporting on main topics affecting the European Union public sphere with a common European perspective.
  • Themes and priorities
    • Content formats
      • Proposals are invited to focus on TV and, to some extent, digital production. This means that, on top of TV linear and non-linear broadcasting, some of the formats are expected to be offered through digital means and accompanied with a multiplaform strategy, such as using social media and engaging with audiences.
      • The proposed programmes need to focus on the European Union and European affairs, as defined. Applicants are expected to propose multiple formats, particularly including:
        • Daily/weekly programmes and tv magazines covering topics of panEuropean resonance and interest (e.g. in-depth reporting, debates, factchecking).
        • Live broadcasts – Interviews of European Union personalities
        • Talk shows and debates on EU topics.
        • News about the EU institutions’ works, decisions, and steps involved in building the EU, along with comparisons of different member-state realities.
    • Governance and workflows
      • Applicants must explain the governance, editorial and technical arrangements underpinning the proposal.
      • All items must be produced, curated and/or disseminated under journalistic standards. Applicants are expected to outline the applicable editorial guidelines and standards, as well as their understanding of what constitutes EU affairs and EU remit. They should indicate how these standards are respected and implemented internally and externally (e.g. through independent analyses of editorial quality) ensuring transparency and/or measures to increase accountability towards the audiences.
      • Applicants must demonstrate the extent to which their editorial arrangements underpin a European perspectice (i.e. are appropriate to provide European perspectives6 to audiences across the EU).
    • Distribution and outreach
      • Dissemination is a fundamental part of this topic. Applicants are invited to describe the existing or planned distribution mechanisms through tv, digital and other innovative formats (e.g. apps, etc).
      • The content offer should target the widest possible audience in multiple EU countries. The proposal should include a cross-platform outreach plan and a social media strategy. This plan must identify target audiences and relevant multipliers, with adapted outreach objectives. Audiences should be able to access the content for free.
      • Media organisations applying to this topic should be well-positioned to bring a European perspective to their viewers and audiences in multiple EU countries. Thus, applicants are expected to produce and distribute a common content offer through a common visual identity, branding and visibility strategy underpinning the European Union nature of the action.
  • Activities that can be funded
    • The following types of activities are eligible under this topic:
      • Editorial projects, content production, curation and dissemination and related activities.
      • Coordination and editorial supervision, governance, management, technical and editorial workflows, staff, control systems.
      • Setup, maintenance and/or development of technical delivery, distribution and transmission systems (either audiovisual and/or via digital platforms, websites and tools, etc.).
  • Expected impact
    • This topic aims to increase the coverage and availability of audiovisual and digital news content on EU affairs from European perspectives. Audiences will gain access to more content on EU affairs through a pool of common European programming in multiple Member States, thereby strengthening a shared democratic engagement and public debate.
    • The territorial focus of this action is: EU Member states
• Topic 2. News services in languages with limited coverage of EU affairs and/or where the diversity of EU news content can improve.
  • Objectives
    • This topic focuses on building or developing international news media offers in EU countries where media pluralism, market plurality and content diversity can improve, including in language markets where the availability of content on EU affairs is limited.
    • According to the 2023 Media Pluralism Monitor, nearly all countries in the European Union experience medium to high risks in terms of market plurality, with Hungary achieving the lowest score. Therefore, establishing and/or maintaining an EU international audiovisual news service in Hungarian is a primary focus under this topic. The service should serve as a platform to produce and disseminate EU and international audiovisual and digital content among Hungarian-speaking populations in the European Union.
    • Applicants might accompany the provision of a service in Hungarian with other languages in EU countries where further provision of independent content on EU affairs has the potential to increasing media pluralism. In all cases, applicants should leverage digital means and technologies to expand audience reach.
  • Themes and priorities (scope)
    • Under this topic, applicants are invited to setup and/or develop international, audiovisual media services specialised on EU affairs and delivering 24/7 content specifically in Hungarian, and, potentially, in other languages in as much as the offer could increase media pluralism in the targeted EU markets.
    • The provision of EU audiovisual services in Hungarian (and other proposed languages, if relevant) should offer audiences continuous access to an independent source of EU and international news content, as an alternative to the usual, national content offers. This offer must focus particularly on EU affairs.
    • Linguistic services
      • Applicants must explain the different components comprising the proposed EU international service, starting by its strategic positioning, nature and purpose. They are encouraged to also utilize local structures in the countries of action (for example in terms of premises, editing staff, technical provisions) if feasible.
      • Applicants are expected to detail
        • The chosen editorial formats and distribution models.
        • The composition and organisation of the editorial and technical staff.
        • The types of content (notably EU affairs, etc) populating the service
      • The linguistic services must focus on EU affairs but can be enhanced by the production of content from areas of interest, potentially involving staff such as Brussels correspondents, digital offices, etc. Similarly, applicants should be capable of producing content that fosters enhanced public and plural debate in the chosen linguistic markets).
    • Distribution and outreach
      • Applicants must describe the proposed delivery systems for the service. They are encouraged to explore mediums such as traditional TV, digital TV, and digital formats (including web, digital apps, etc.).
      • The content offer should target the widest possible audience in the targeted countries (including Hungarian speaking populations). The proposal should include a cross-platform outreach plan and a social media strategy. Audiences should be able to access the content for free.
      • Media organisations applying to this topic should be in a good position to bring a European perspective to their viewers and audiences. Thus, applicants are expected to produce and distribute a common content offer through a common visual identity, branding and visibility strategy underpinning the European Union nature of the action.
      • For TV programming, applicants are also strongly encouraged to search synergies of the services with other existing linguistic offers (e.g. through common programming grids across borders). On digital formats, proposals are expected to consider different sorts of technical and engagement solutions to ensure discoverability and sorting, user-friendliness and dissemination of content, as well as the tools to monitor impact.
  • Activities that can be funded
    • The following types of activities are eligible under this topic:
      • Editorial projects, content production, curation and dissemination and related activities.
      • Coordination and editorial supervision, governance, management, technical and editorial workflows, staff, control systems.
      • Rental or maintenance of studios and premises locally to carry out the action
  • Expected impact
    • This action aims to increase the coverage and availability of audiovisual and digital content on EU affairs in Hungarian and other languages where availability of content on EU affairs can improve. These audiences will gain access to more content on EU affairs through new international/EU programming, thereby reinforcing democratic engagement and public debate in the targeted countries.
    • The territorial focus of this action is: EU Member states with limited coverage of EU affairs and/or where the diversity of EU affairs content can improve.
    • Consistent with other projects dealing with developing a European public sphere, applicants will have to propose indicators to measure the accomplishment of their actions and plans. Indicators will address, at least, the following categories: (a) Proportion of EU citizens addressed through the multilingual offer, (b) Potential audience, (c) Actual audience, (d) Digital reach, (e) Engagement through social media, (f) Editorial quality and European perspective.

Funding Information

• The available call budget is EUR 11 000 000.
• Project budget(s)
  • This budget is split as follows:
    • EUR 8 000 000 is proposed for Topic 1.
    • EUR 3 000 000 is proposed for Topic 2.
• The Commission expects to fund one project for Topic 1 and one project for Topic 2. However, this does not preclude the submission/selection of a proposal requesting a lower amount.

Duration

• Projects should normally range between 12 and 14 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
• Proposals may be submitted by any of the following applicants or combinations of:
  • News media organisations specialising in EU matters.
• Natural persons are not eligible
• International organisations are not eligible.
• Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.
• EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can not be part of the consortium.
• Affiliated entities
  • Legal entities having a legal or capital link with applicants, which is neither limited to the action nor established for the sole purpose of its implementation, may take part in the action as affiliated entities, and may declare eligible costs as specified in section 10.

For more information, visit EC.