Identifying user-focused solutions to support news media freedom
Horizon Europe · Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society · HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-06
Funding for research and pilots that close data gaps on news media and test business models supporting media freedom and independence.
This call is announced but not open yet. Dates and conditions can still change.
What is this call about?
The topic funds research and pilots that fill data gaps on European news media, map market failures and test user-centred business models supporting media freedom and independence. It targets consortia of academia, civil society and news sector representatives.
What does this call fund?
Scope
News media face economic pressure, political influence and competition from social media, which particularly affects original journalism such as local media, investigative journalism, public interest news and journalistic magazines. The topic supports research and innovation that closes European data gaps on the news sector and tests models that strengthen financial and editorial independence.
Activities
- Comparable European consumer and market data and models to analyse audience behaviour across societal groups, including audience measurement tools, to help news media improve relevance, quality, distribution and business models, including formats using AI and XR.
- Identification of market failures in news sectors relevant to democracy, such as local media and investigative journalism, and business models that can address them.
- Development, prototyping and testing of small-scale, user-centric business models that involve citizens in producing, monetising, distributing and consuming quality information.
- Mapping and development of audience measurement systems, proposals for interoperability around common standards and metadata taxonomies to strengthen the sector's negotiating position towards tech and advertising companies.
- Sharing conclusions and practical action plans with industry and policymakers.
Expected outcomes
Key data gaps in the European news media sectors are filled, news consumption patterns online and offline are identified, and news organisations and journalists gain knowledge and tools to adapt to digital transformation and reach new audiences.
What are the key facts?
- Topic budget
- €12,000,000
- Minimum amount per project
- €3,500,000
- Maximum amount per project
- €4,000,000
- Call code
- HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-06
- Programme
- Horizon Europe
- Expected number of projects
- 3
Who can apply for this call?
- Consortia should bring together academia, including social sciences and humanities, civil society organisations and representatives of multiple news sectors, including influencers and other content creators.
- Data produced should be FAIR, and consortia should use European Research Infrastructures and Data Spaces where applicable.
Check your eligibility and how your project fits
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What are proposals expected to do?
- Collaboration with relevant projects from previous EU-funded calls and clustering among selected projects are strongly encouraged.
When is the deadline?
23 September 2027 (321 days)
23 September 2027 (single-stage). The planned opening date is 13 May 2027.
Interested in this call? Summary written with AI from the official call documents. Details can differ, so check the official call page before you apply. Read the official call documents before you decide. The official text is always binding.
Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the official call documents. Official call page Last updated 6 October 2026.