Microgrants for Small Newsrooms

This grant and mentoring programme as part of the ongoing PluPro project aims to empower 50 local independent media outlets. The goal is to foster resilience and viability through capacity-building activities, design-learning innovation, and a repository of case studies and best practices. It aims to encourage a culture of innovation at the local level through introducing media personnel to a design-learning approach focused on audience research, prototyping, and testing new products and services.

By the end of the project, it will have accumulated a vast set of case studies and best practices that can then be shared with other newsrooms across Europe, in countries suffering from a lack of plurality and beyond. All project outputs will be freely accessible, fostering ongoing professional development beyond the programme's duration.

This programme will:

  • Allow small news outlets in countries where media plurality is under threat to implement new tactics and skills to build resilience and viability;
  • Encourage a culture of innovation at the local level through introducing media personnel to a design-learning approach focused on audience research, prototyping, and testing new products and services;
  • Accumulate a vast set of case studies and best practices that can then be shared with other newsrooms across Europe, in countries suffering from a lack of plurality and beyond.

Financial support

For the Microgrants for Small Newsrooms (2024-2025), Journalismfund Europe received support from The European Union, Vereniging Veronica and Limelight Foundation.

An independent jury of four decides who gets a grant. Here's how the jury works.

Need help?

Take a look at our grant details and FAQ. Next, we're always happy to discuss your project ideas or to answer any questions you might have about your application. So don't hesitate to contact us via phone or mail, or to make an appointment for a video call.

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For Who
50 local independent media outlets

For small, local and independent media outlets  (legal entities) in EU member states and participating countries in the Creative Europe Programme, with a particular emphasis on countries with a medium- or high-risk rating according to the Media Pluralism Monitor.

How Much
€250,000

In 2024-2025 the total grant budget is €250,000 to distribute over two application rounds (€125,000 per call). Maximum amount per media outlet: €5,000.

For the period 2024-2025, the programme will be supported by 2 foundations and the European Union:

  • The European Union
  • Limelight Foundation
  • Vereniging Veronica
Next deadline
17 December 2024

For this grant programme there are 2 application rounds scheduled. One in 2024 and one in 2025:

  • The first deadline is Tuesday 17 December 2024 at 1pm CET
  • The second deadline is Thursday 3 April 2025 at 1 pm CET