Who we are
Journalismfund Europe vzw is a Brussels-based independent non-profit intermediary, founded in 1998 as a citizens’ initiative under the name Fonds Pascal Decroos. It is dedicated to strengthening democracy across Europe by advancing cross-border investigative journalism that serves the public interest, furthers accountability and transparency, and contributes to critical thinking and well-informed debate. Its overall objective is to promote and improve the profession in response to the challenges and opportunities stemming from internationalisation, digitalisation and changing revenue models.
Journalismfund Europe is one of the three pioneering organisations in the world set up specifically to provide grants to journalists and media outlets. The other two, which inspired its creation, are the Dutch Fund for In-depth Journalism (°1990) and the American Fund for Investigative Journalism (°1969). The three organisations continue to work closely together, sharing knowledge and working methods.
What we do
Journalismfund Europe’s flexible grant programmes enable journalists and media to produce relevant stories of public interest with a European mind-set, from international, national and regional perspectives. Where necessary, it mentors and supports investigative teams that have strong ideas but lack the experience and infrastructure to work across borders.
How we work
Journalismfund Europe acts as a firewall between donors and journalists. This intermediary role is essential to enable donors to fund investigative journalism without risk and without compromising the credibility and independence of the journalists or media. Journalismfund Europe respects the editorial independence of its grantees and strives for high journalistic quality and rigour.
Risk management is built into every stage of its work. Throughout the application process and the projects themselves, careful measures are taken to protect journalists, projects, donors and the organisation, and to make the most efficient use of the resources allocated: digital security, confidentiality, contracting, follow-up, reporting, financial control, publication and dissemination.
Reach and networks
Journalismfund Europe guarantees a wide and highly targeted dissemination of its calls for proposals, and focuses on the dissemination and impact of the stories it supports. It works year-round with European networks and the investigative journalism community, including through its International Advisory Board, and is part of two global networks: the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD). Journalismfund Europe works in English, French, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Hungarian, Dutch and Russian.
(Photo: ©Journalismfund Europe)