Facebook and European Journalism Center invest $3M in European journalism in context of Covid-19 - European Journalism Center

The European Journalism Centre (EJC) and the Facebook Journalism Project (FJP) have launched a $3 million USD fund to support European regional mass media outlets in response to coronavirus, as to European Journalism Center.

"€5,000 grants to help local media engage communities and their conversations with short-term or one-off COVID-19-related initiatives. For example, these grants may be used to launch a dedicated newsletter, create a community group, undertake local fact-checking, engage in community data reporting, produce short-run print material, or set-up online events. Freelancers and/or groups of freelancers may also apply".

The organizations have established fund and are to offer €10,000 and €25,000 grants focused on providing specific financial support to address immediate and critical business needs. "These grants may be used to replace lost sales revenue, fund alternative print distribution, cover key organisational costs, and hire freelancers to replace staff during illness", the EJC said. 

Also they launch an innovation fund with €50,000 grants to facilitate innovative and useful technological journalistic coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic or technical news organisation projects with potential to scale. These grants may be used to facilitate collaboration between local publishers, for in-depth data journalism projects, to organise help within communities, to fill local TV coverage gaps, and to develop apps to engage local communities.

Based on reports of European Journalism Center