From business consultancies and incubators to hackathons and accelerators, independent media outlets across Europe stand to benefit from a suite of opportunities offered under a bold new initiative designed to stimulate innovation, sustainable business models and collaboration. Launched on 1 June, “Media Innovation Europe: Energising the European Media Ecosystem” is a two-year programme spearheaded by the International Press Institute Global Network of editors, journalists, and media builders together with three non-profits committed to helping news organisations provide audiences with the independent journalism they need.

Supported by the European Union, the initiative will pool the strengths of the consortium partners in mobilising networks, running granting and mentoring programmes, and supporting media innovation. Media Innovation Europe aims to help news outlets overcome challenges ranging from broken business models and plummeting revenues to waning public trust, “state capture” of independent media and other political pressures.