Call for an increase of European support for free media

They are directly and severely impacted by the current US administration's decision to freeze financial support to independent media. 

Therefore, we - a coalition of media organizations concerned with media freedom, journalists' safety, and every person's right to access unbiased and fact-based information – call on the European Union and European states to step up their support for independent media.  

Robust financial and political support are urgently needed to ensure that independent public interest media can survive this imminent crisis.  

Reliable information saves lives, fosters accountability and empowers people to make informed decisions. Without it, people in all parts of the world will be adversely affected, and not only those living in low- and middle-income countries. Wherever reliable, independent media are weakened, propaganda and vested interests inevitably fill the gap. 

We are facing the risk of a mass silencing of independent media that will have an immense social impact and further imperil the global development agenda and international peace.  

Free, pluralistic and reliable public interest media are indispensable for democracy and human progress. At this critical time, comprehensive European support is vital to their survival. 

Initiated by the following European media development organizations:  

CFI (France), DW Akademie (Germany), Fondation Hirondelle (Switzerland) and International Media Support (Denmark).

As of 18th April 2025 the call is supported by 215 organizations and 21 individuals. You can find the complete list below.

Read the call here in French, Spanish and German.

N.B. In January 2025 GFMD had started a complementary initiative: Urgent call for governments, multilateral institutions, and philanthropies to support independent media and journalism where you have the opportunity to support and sign anonymously. Both initiatives go hand-in-hand and your support for both calls is very much appreciated.

List of supporting organizations:

1. Odipo Dev
2. Association Nigérienne des Web-Activistes (ANIWEB)
3. Forum marocain des alternatives sud (FMAS)
4. Gorara arts & cultures
5. فضاء ورزازات للاعلام والتنشيط الثقافي, Space of Media and Cultural Animation in Ouarzazate
6. MADRAJ
7. Africa Uncensored
8. 7amleh – Arab Center for Social Media Advancement
9. gluthfilm
10. taz Panter Stiftung
11. Faro Foundation Mongolia NGO
12. Afrikarabia
13. Media Monitoring Africa
14. SEENPM (South East European Network for Profession­alization of Media)
15. Albanian Center for Quality Journalism
16. Journal Œil Du Kivu
17. Batè fm kankan (Guinée)
18. Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN)
19. News Agency KosovaPress
20. MINA-Montenegrin Independent News Agency
21. Media Voice
22. 360 Степени (360 Degrees)
23. Ecole publique de journalisme de Tours (EPJT)
24. Modern journalism development center
25. Itara Burundi
26. Public Media Alliance
27. Mizzima Media
28. SLOBODEN PECAT DOO Skopje
29. Shwe Phee Myay News Agency- SPM
30. The Palestinian Platform for Fact-Checking and Media Literacy - Kashif
31. Anhor.uz
32. Sawab Lebanese Factchecking Platform
33. Media Action Nepal
34. KirkukNow Media Outlet
35. World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)
36. Maharat Foundation
37. Myitkyina News Journal
38. Tribal News Network
39. Khonumthung Media Group (KMG)
40. Enab Baladi
41. Arta for Media and Development
42. Correio Sabiá
43. ABO Local Media Development Agency
44. Samir Kassir Foundation
45. EUobserver
46. Roar Global
47. The What If
48. High Asia Media Group
49. COMUNICARES
50. Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership & Rights Activation
51. Rozana for media
52. Annir Initiative
53. Radio Television Niksic, Montenegro
54. Kiripost Media
55. MiCT
56. Development Media Group (DMG)
57. Daraj Media
58. She Checks
59. ARIJ Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism
60. Belarusian Investigative Center
61. Gender and Media Connect
62. FAMILY AND CHILDHOOD PROTECTION SOCIETY
63. Information for Development Trust
64. Palestaine News Network PNN
65. Amhara Region Media Association
66. Zimbabwe Centre for Media and Information Literacy
67. Africa News Channel
68. Daily Nawa-I-AhmedpurSharqia Pakistan
69. avinjo gGmbH
70. Public Journalism Club
71. Media Council of Mongolia
72. Peace Journalism Lab, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
73. Jordan Media Institute
74. FactCheckZW
75. Chin World Media
76. Media Consulting Foundation
77. Afghanistan Journalists Support Organisation (AJSO)
78. Community Podium
79. Khmer Youth Association (KYA)
80. Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Network Albania
81. Communication and Media Promotion Organization
82. Western News
83. Dawei Watch
84. Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association
85. WOMEN'S MEDIA CENTRE OF CAMBODIA
86. The Irrawaddy
87. BBC Media Action
88. Magamba Cultural Activists Network Trust
89. Rural Media Network Pakistan
90. Africa Uncensored
91. deCheckers vzw
92. Mediawijs
93. FoNet Ltd / FoNet News Agency
94. Les Échos du Niger
95. le regard. Info
96. Shujaa-Initiative
97. Myaelatt Athan News Agency
98. Centre for Law and Democracy
99. Panos Institute Southern Africa
100. Nyugat Media and World Wide Web Association (publishing several news sites)
101. POWER99 Foundation
102. Foundation IDEA Southeast Europe
103. Vidi Vaka Storytelling Studio
104. Foundation Vidi Vamo
105. OCCRP Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
106. IRADA Foundation / Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development
107. European Journalism Center foundation
108. Making Waves
109. Media Institute of Southern Africa
110. Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ)
111. Maison de la Presse du Mali
112. Réseau des associations d'élèves et étudiants du septentrion
113. Instituto de Prensa y Libertad de Expresión IPLEX Costa Rica
114. Association des Blogueurs du Burkina
115. Creamos Guatemala
116. Ojoconmipisto
117. International Federation of Journalists - Asia-Pacific
118. Factual / Distintas Latitudes
119. Red Periodistas de a Pie
120. Africa Women Journalism Project
121. The Battlegound
122. Benbere
123. Radio mampita
124. Nest Center for Journalism Innovation and Development NGO
125. Diaa foundation - Tahaqaq Morocco
126. Media Development Center, Tunis
127. Uusi Hanko
128. European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
129. International Fund for Public Interest Media
130. European Capital of Democracy (ECoD NPO)
131. AMLIH
132. Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions
133. National Union of Jouranlists (India)
134. Myanmar Journalists Network
135. Freedom Network - www.fnpk.org
136. Indian Journalists Union
137. Federation of Media Employees trade Union
138. CAMECO
139. International Federation of Journalists
140. The Colonist Report
141. JournoTECH
142. Respublika- EFJK
143. Radio Erena
144. Fondation ZAYA
145. Ex-press
146. Fundación Muy Waso
147. PFUJ
148. 2402 Foundation (Daily Humanity)
149. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
150. Cambodian Center for Human Rights
151. Sri lanka working journalists Association
152. National Union of Journalists of Ukraine
153. FLUENTLY
154. MEDIA CHALLENGE INITIATIVE
155. Fundación para el Periodismo
156. Indian Journalists Union
157. Observatoire Marocain des libertés publiques
158. Myanmar Women in Media
159. Dooz
160. Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN
161. Earshot strategies
162. SembraMedia
163. The New Humanitarian
164. Colombes de la Nature (CDN)
165. Divergentes
166. RNW Media
167. Media Freedom Fund
168. Hope Channel Uganda
169. Wab-infos
170. Probe Productions, Inc.
171. Human Rights Network for Journalists- Uganda
172. Oslobodjenje servisi
173. Cambodia Center for Independent Media
174. Sphera Network
175. ONG STUDIO SIFAKA
176. Media and Creative Industry Workers Union for Democracy (SINDIKASI) Indonesia
177. VIKES - Finnish Foundation for Media and Development
178. Palestine News Network PNN
179. Olanya Olenge Consults
180. Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions
181. Narinjara News
182. Nan Media - Radio and TV Channels
183. Azda TV (Tajiki language exile media)
184. Associatia Eurolife
185. Dare to be Grey
186. n-ost e.V.
187. SciDev.Net
188. Yemen Future
189. United Voices organization
190. Alhudood
191. Ma3azef LTD
192. Masaar Foundation
193. ADRIA INFO
194. 8AM MEDIA
195. Rukhshana media
196. Mulknews.com
197. RADIO DAUPHIN
198. Radio kantigiya
199. Radio Walde Ejef
200. Radio Évangile du Sud Ouest
201. RADIO TAMPANI LEO
202. Radio LPC Tenkodogo
203. Voix du Loroum
204. Radio la Voix des Balé
205. Radio Djawaompo
206. Radio Loudon
207. Radio Tin Tua Fada Direc
208. Radio palabre
209. Radio Municipale de Dori
210. Radio Laafi
211. Radio nshoko
212. Radio Kanal 77
213. Association of citizens Media Plus
214. point media
215. JX Fund

Individual supporters

• Kyle James
• Robin Eberhardt
• Aymen Nouri
• Ian P. Johnson
• Barbara Thomass
• Dallandyshe Xhaferri
• Foka Mapagne
• Ariana Arlinda Miranda Teixeira
• Iskandar Naouar
• Tovalou Kossi Blaise Ayegnon
• Gerald Businge
• Alice Darcq
• Samphors Hang
• Naing Htark
• Jeanette Cwienk
• Isabell Lorenzo-Reichardt
• Victoria Silva
• Nathalie Blaquiere
• Naomi Goldsmith
• Mathias Felipe De Lima Santos
• Vera Grohotova