BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — Internews Europe and its consortium partners CFI Media Development, Thomson Media, ARTICLE 19, and Fojo Media Institute, with the support of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the conference, Supporting Independent Media Through Global Partnerships, held today at the European Commission’s InfoPoint.
The event brought together key representatives from the European Commission, media development organizations, and civil society to advance dialogue on the resilience and sustainability of independent journalism worldwide.
The conference highlighted the pivotal role independent media plays in upholding democracy and governance, particularly during times of global instability. Discussions emphasized innovative approaches to advancing information integrity, supporting journalists at risk, and fostering inclusivity and representation in newsrooms worldwide.
Highlights:
- Presentations from EU-supported global projects, including AGILE, spearheaded by Internews Europe and its partners, which aim to support media and healthy information environments in over 20 countries.
- Presentations from BBC Media Action and Free Press Unlimited; the other two leads of consortia working within this Financial Framework Partnership Agreement to support independent media.
- Engaging panel discussions on critical challenges faced by journalists, including threats to media freedom, rising hate speech, and the erosion of trust in news.
- A strong focus on digital innovation, global collaboration, and strategies to sustain local journalism in underserved regions, or “news deserts.”
Keynote speakers included:
- Meera Selva, CEO of Internews Europe, who emphasized AGILE’s transformative potential in addressing media resilience challenges globally.
- Chiara Adamo, Head of Unit INTPA G1, who highlighted the EU’s unwavering commitment to strengthening media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy.
- Farhod Rahmatov, Project Director for AGILE, who provided insights into upcoming activities fostering knowledge exchange across the media development sector.
The conference concluded with a robust Q&A session, where attendees explored practical strategies to advance the shared goal of an empowered, independent global press.
About AGILE: AGILE (Advancing Global Innovation and Learning Effectively) will invest €10.5 million over four years to address acute challenges in media freedom by fostering trustworthy reporting and resilience in volatile contexts. It is part of a €20 million initiative, led by the DG INTPA, to support independent media.
Three consortia of top media-development organisations, led by Internews Europe, BBC Media Action and Free Press Unlimited will be partnering with the European Union until the end of 2027 to support independent media via the FFPA.
Internews Europe remains committed to building on the momentum of this event, ensuring that learnings from AGILE and similar projects catalyze long-term impact in the media sector.
Meera Selva, Internews Europe CEO, said: “The resilience of independent journalism is fundamental to the health of our democracies and societies. Through initiatives like AGILE, we are not just responding to the immediate threats faced by journalists worldwide; we are laying the groundwork for a more robust, collaborative, and sustainable media ecosystem. This conference underscores the power of partnerships and innovation in ensuring that independent media thrives, even in the most challenging environments.”
Thierry Vallat, CEO of CFI Media Development, said: ”AGILE marks a new chapter in CFI’s history and underlines the importance of the European dimension of its action. In a global environment that is increasingly adverse for independent and truth-based media, it was paramount for the French media development agency to onboard the AGILE consortium, gathering the top tier of European media support actors, and join forces to design and deliver cutting-edge and result-oriented actions to protect independent media. Our contribution will be deployed at the nexus of media, civil society, marginalised communities and tech innovators, and will feed, and be nurtured by, the overall AGILE initiative.”
Federica Varalda, Managing Director of Thomson Media, said: “At Thomson Media, we believe that resilience and sustainability are the bedrock of a thriving independent media ecosystem. Through AGILE, we are building an enduring framework that addresses both the immediate threats to journalists and the long-term structural challenges facing the industry. By fostering innovation, global partnerships, and knowledge-sharing, AGILE strengthens the capacity of media organizations to adapt and flourish, ensuring that independent journalism remains a pillar of democracy and informed governance worldwide.”
Quinn McKew, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, said: “AGILE is a strategic initiative for ARTICLE 19 and for all independent journalists at risk. In the rise of structural and institutional threats targeting journalists, this partnership will enable coordinated, collaborative and sustained responses that are vital to counter censorship, it also promotes innovative practices and the highest protection standards, enabling journalists and the media to continue their critical work.”
Paul Rapacioli, Director of Fojo Media Institute, said: “An increasingly fragmented information landscape means increasingly diverse challenges to journalism and democracy. Yet, as highlighted at this conference, many of the ideas and innovations needed to overcome these challenges are already out there. Anchored in global partnership and collaboration, the AGILE initiative will be a driving force in turning these ideas into long-term structural resilience for independent journalism – strengthening everything from industry practices to journalism education, giving the next generation of journalists the tools to meet these challenges head-on.”
For further information, please contact Mollie Letheren Smith: [email protected]
About Internews
Internews is a nonprofit that supports independent media in 100 countries. Internews trains journalists and digital rights practitioners, tackles disinformation, and offers business expertise to help media outlets thrive financially. For 40 years, it has helped partners reach millions of people with trustworthy information that saves lives, improves livelihoods, and holds institutions accountable.
Find out more at internews.org