We have compiled a list of organisations that offer operational, strategic, and financial/business support for independent media, helping outlets survive, grow, and enhance their impact.
There are two categories below. The first shows organisations that offer training and financial support. The second shows organisations that offer training. The organisations are ordered alphabetically. Although Media Helping Media has worked with a number of the organisations mentioned below, these are not recommendations but rather a list of what is out there.
Major support organisations
These organisations offer varied forms of support – from direct funding and investment to strategic guidance, operational assistance, and training – making them potential partners for independent media seeking to sustain and grow their operations.
- European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF): Supports press freedom and independent journalism with advocacy, grants, and legal aid, and runs development programmes for media organisations. https://www.ecpmf.eu/
- European Journalism Centre (EJC): Delivers grant-funded accelerator programmes, mentoring, and business workshops for news organisations across Europe, supporting solutions-driven journalism, innovation, and critical reporting projects through both financial and operational assistance. ttps://ejc.net/
- Free Press Unlimited (FPU): Offers funding, mentoring, and organisational development support to independent media, with a focus on safety, gender equality, and resilience under threat. https://www.freepressunlimited.org/
- Google News Initiative: Runs accelerator programmes, grants, and training that help independent publishers strengthen business models and digital operations. https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/
- International Center for Journalists (ICFJ): Offers global fellowships, intensive training, workshops, and targeted business development support for independent journalists and newsrooms, helping them build resilient operational structures and adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape. https://www.icfj.org/
- International Media Support (IMS): Provides strategic advice, organisational development, and sometimes funding for independent media operating in challenging environments. https://www.mediasupport.org/
- International Press Institute (IPI): Manages cross-border funding schemes and legal support, and provides strategic business advice for investigative journalists operating in challenging environments, often partnering with EJC and others for broader capacity-building projects. https://ipi.media/
- Internews: Offers operational support, training, business development resources, and financial aid, especially in regions where media freedom is threatened. https://internews.org/
- Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF): Offers loans and equity investments specifically aimed at independent media businesses, along with tailored business support and strategic advice. https://www.mdif.org/
- National Endowment for Democracy (NED): Provides grants for independent media development, including business strategy and operational capacity-building. https://www.ned.org/
- Open Society Foundations (OSF): Funds independent media projects and provides strategic capacity-building grants to non-profit outlets, especially those promoting pluralism. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/
- Press Freedom Fund (European Federation of Journalists initiative): Provides emergency grants, legal aid, and organisational assistance to journalists and outlets under pressure, particularly in Europe. https://europeanjournalists.org/
- International Press Institute (IPI): Manages cross-border funding schemes and legal support, and provides strategic business advice for investigative journalists operating in challenging environments, often partnering with EJC and others for broader capacity-building projects. https://ipi.media/
Training platforms for independent media
Below is a selection of organisations and platforms that offer training as a supplementary educational resource for independent media. These range from global online learning hubs to specialised institutes supporting news businesses and journalists. The list is presented alphabetically.
- Arena for Journalism in Europe: Supports collaborative investigative projects through mentoring, operational advice, and secure digital infrastructure, with regular masterclasses and conferences that build cross-border networks and sustainability skills among thematic outlets. https://journalismarena.eu/
- BBC Media Action: Provides technical assistance, training, and strategic media development support focused on strengthening independent journalism, particularly in fragile and transitional contexts. https://www.bbcmediaaction.org/
- Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA): A NED (National Endowment for Democracy) initiative that produces research, convenes networks, and provides funding guidance to strengthen the sustainability and impact of independent media worldwide. https://www.cima.ned.org/
- Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ): Provides workshops, data journalism training, and investigative skills development for journalists, freelancers, and independent media producers. https://tcij.org/
- Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (CUNY) – Center for Community Media: Training, networking, and professional development for local and underrepresented independent news outlets, including research and workshops. https://www.journalism.cuny.edu/centers/center-community-media/
- DW Akademie: Runs extensive training and institutional development programmes to strengthen journalism education and independent media organisations globally, often in collaboration with local partners. https://akademie.dw.com/
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Academy: Offers editorial and digital skills training to strengthen media operations and content creation, including modules relevant to independent and public-interest media. https://www.ebu.ch/academy
- Fojo Media Institute: Delivers in-person and online training, capacity-building programmes, and educational resources supporting free, independent, and professional journalism, often in collaboration with local partners and platforms such as MHM. https://fojo.se/en/
- International Center for Journalists (ICFJ): Offers global training, mentoring, tip sheets, fellowships, and opportunities for journalists across all media sectors. https://www.icfj.org/
- Institute for Independent Journalists: Education, professional development, and mutual support specifically for independent journalists. https://theiij.com/
- Internews: Offers in-country, online, and partnership-based training, addressing journalistic skills, financial sustainability, and digital safety for independent media around the world. https://internews.org/
- Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION) Publishers: Curates training, resources, and tools specifically for small and independent local newsrooms. https://lionpublishers.com/
- Media Development Collective: Specialised training for media organisations in areas like media literacy, digital media, tackling misinformation, persuasive storytelling, and content creation. https://mediadevelopmentcollective.com/
- Media Helping Media (MHM): Our own site provides free journalism training resources including 60+ day long lesson plans, 20+ six-week course modules, and a dozen training tools which are all focused on capacity building for media professionals in transition and developing regions. MHM also provides remote mentoring and guidance. https://mediahelpingmedia.org/
- Poynter Institute: Runs online and in-person training, seminars, and hands-on coaching for journalists seeking professional development and newsroom skills. https://www.poynter.org/
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ): Provides research-based training, leadership programmes, and fellowships focused on innovation, sustainability, and digital strategy in journalism. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/
- RNTC (RNW Media): Provides intensive journalism and media training, including hands-on learning, coaching, assessment, and strategic media consultancy for media makers, communication professionals, and journalists. https://rntc.com/
- Society of Professional Journalists: Offers regular webinars, online courses, and guides tailored to freelancers and newsroom journalists. https://www.spj.org/
- Thomson Foundation: Delivers global training programmes, online courses, and blended learning for news and media professionals, emphasising production skills, newsroom management, and sustainable journalism. https://www.thomsonfoundation.org/
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