Anne-Marie and Gustaf Ander Centre for Media Studies

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Expert-Reviewed Journalism

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A new €1.68 million initiative is set to support journalists and media organisations in producing more accurate and impactful cross-border reporting.

The initiative will connect academics, industry professionals, and subject matter experts with local, regional, national media organisations, and investigative journalists to foster multidisciplinary collaboration and excellence.

Expert-reviewed journalism is a significant innovation for the media industry, helping journalists to overcome challenges such as limited resources and maintaining credibility when covering complex, interconnected topics. Journalismfund Europe and the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) are pleased to announce the launch of an innovative project called ‘Expert-Reviewed Journalism’. The project will encourage journalists to take a more scientific and methodical approach to their investigations, ultimately improving their ability to inform the public more effectively. It will also provide management training to twenty five selected small and medium-sized media companies.

Journalismfund has been providing cross-border grants to European journalists and media since 2009. Our service in this area is becoming increasingly sophisticated. This grant programme is the most ambitious that we have ever set up." Ides Debruyne, managing director, Journalismfund Europe.
Ides Deruyne
Managing director, Journalismfund Europe

On the one hand, articles will benefit from expert peer review and rigorous, comprehensive linguistic editing. This will ensure that they meet the highest standards of reliability and impact. By prioritising resilience, pluralism, and editorial independence, the project also aims to strengthen vital democratic institutions such as community media and investigative outlets. Experts will collaborate with media professionals to tackle the challenges these sectors face—these range from external pressures to resource constraints.

As a key partner in this EU initiative, we will leverage our expertise in media, education, and policy advisory to foster dialogue, empower future media professionals, and ensure the development of impactful training solutions." Edgars Spuravs, director for Centre for Media Studies SSE Riga
Edgars Spuravs
Director, The Centre for Media Studies at SSE Riga

The ‘Expert-Reviewed Journalism’ project aims to encourage journalists and media outlets, both local and national, to collaborate on transnational investigations. A budget of €1,680,000 will be available in grants. In addition to financial support, selected media outlets will have the opportunity to receive newsroom training and advice from media experts.

For the grant programme, four application rounds are scheduled in 2026, with the following deadlines:

  • Thursday 19 March 2026 at 1 pm CET
  • Thursday 21 May 2026 at 1 pm CET
  • Thursday 30 July 2026 at 1 pm CET
  • Thursday 1 October 2026 at 1 pm CET

In 2027, two application deadlines are scheduled: 7 January and 11 March at 1 pm CET.

More information on applying for grants can be found here. 

The project includes a robust training initiative for media outlet managers. This training will focus on essential aspects such as project management, storytelling techniques, editorial practices, and budgeting strategies. By strengthening these skills, the project aims to empower managers to run their outlets more effectively and sustainably.
 
Applications for the Sustainability and Media Management Training Program will be open from March 2 to April 2. The program will consist of four modules: Business Strategy & Crisis Management (May 18 – May 22, in-person at SSE Riga), Marketing & Media Tech (June 15 – June 19, online), Finance (July 20 – July 24, in-person at SSE Riga), and Leadership and Networking (September 21 – September 26, in-person at SSE Riga). Last module will be combined with final project presentations for the investor panel.
 
The project is co-funded by the Granting Authority, European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) – Project 101241988 – EXPJOU. The projects duration is 24 months with the start on January 1, 2026.

Registration form can be found here.

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