EU Commission: 9.5 million for cross-border coverage of European news

The Commission will grant €9.5 million to EU media for the “production and distribution of digital news content on EU affairs”. These funds will be allocated under two calls for proposals launched today, which will make available €5 million for digital reporting and €4.5 million for audio reporting. The first call aims to finance two projects providing digital content in a minimum of six EU languages; it is aimed at media outlets and technology developers to help them prepare and present digital information. “The goal – according to the Commission – is to offer citizens a wide choice of online news content by increasing the number of independent reports through digital formats”. The second call aims to finance projects focused on the production of audio formats, such as newscasts, reports, documentaries, magazines and talk shows, and is aimed at media outlets, particularly those specialised in the audio format. “The aim is to increase independent reporting through audio formats, including cross-border formats, in order to benefit as many EU citizens as possible, particularly in countries where information on EU affairs is limited”. It is specified that eligible applicants must be editorially independent.Gianni Borsa