Journalismfund Europe, International Media Support (IMS) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are launching Sustainable Media for Democracy (SM4D), a 24-month programme starting on 1 November 2026. Co-funded by the European Union through Creative Europe and by Limelight Foundation, it will support around 45 local, regional, community and investigative media outlets in news deserts and in areas where media pluralism is under strain.

Selected outlets will receive between €5,000 and €60,000 in direct funding, from a total fund of €1,625,000. The funding comes with a capacity-building and peer-learning programme covering AI and new technologies, audience strategies, business models and access to new sources of capital. Outlets from earlier initiatives will also work with RSF’s Journalism Trust Initiative to strengthen editorial standards. Eligible media are based in the EU27, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

An introductory webinar will take place on 2 December 2026 at 14:00 CET.

DEADLINE: Two calls for proposals will open in December 2026.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND TO APPLY