EJC Survey Results: Over 400 journalists and newsrooms share insights

More than 400 journalists and newsrooms across Europe have shared their insights and recommendations in the European Journalism Centre’s first-ever community survey. We appreciate these recommendations and are thankful to all of you who participated. We hope you will see the influence of this survey in our future programs and initiatives.

This survey aimed to identify the most valuable forms of support that the EJC provides to its community.

Survey demographics

The survey needed to cater to the views of a broad cross-section of the European journalism audience. Our respondents came from a wide range of backgrounds.

The EJC's impact on journalism

Seeing how many of you valued the EJC’s initiatives was gratifying. 60% of participants strongly recommended our programmes. Most respondents also stated they had directly benefited from EJC support during their careers. Our training programmes and grants were particularly appreciated, while our workshops were praised for enhancing journalists’ professional skills.

Opportunities for collaboration and networking through EJC have also led to tangible changes in how journalists work and the quality of their reporting. Many have stated that the networking sessions and community spaces that our activities provide helped them connect with other journalists and media practitioners, often resulting in collaborations for more holistic coverage.

EJC has been a great resource in my career through its grants and programmes

-Non-profit or foundation staff - Germany

I'd recommend it because I believe the EJC could be a way to find professional networking and collaboration opportunities with other journalists and media professionals via its extensive network and events.

-Newsroom staff or correspondent - Poland

Funding

In 2023, the EJC dedicated €1,518,000 to various programs, including:

• €10,000 to the first edition of the Climate Journalism Award, which includes 5 categories
• €1,072,000 to the Solutions Journalism Accelerator, for 9 projects
• €100,000 to the GNI Student Fellowship for student fellows from 13 different countries worldwide
• €100,000 to the Global Health Security Call for 12 projects
• €236,000 to cross-border investigative journalism in partnership with IJ4EU

A key metric of our impact is the support journalists receive. More than anything else, most of the respondents named the various types of support we provided as something they have received at some stage in their careers, as a significant part  of them mentioned “training” and “grants.” 

According to the respondents, one of the main noticeable changes has been an uptick in professional skills and knowledge, with some 35% of people stating that our training activities and workshops directly impacted their skills.

Support in terms of funding is most appreciated and very helpful, considering that most participants are freelancers; according to the survey, it is believed to be the most urgent measure of support in terms of funding to freelancers and local news (48.15%).

Freelancers, who are most vulnerable in the current challenging journalism landscape, will remain our focus to support. Our efforts in making journalism sustainable are focusing on climate journalism, representation and diversity but also in pushing for the constant reimagination of journalism

-Lars Boering, Director at EJC

Resources

EJC believes that lifelong learning is key; this was clearly emphasised in our recent board meeting. With resources, handbooks and guides, we enable every journalist to gain knowledge. Journalists work hard and do not always have the time to find the latest developments in their working field. It is up to us to serve them this while at the same time we push for areas in journalism that need attention.

-Lars Boering, Director at EJC

The EJC has over 130 free resources, accessible on our website, covering practical guides, case studies, databases, training courses, and videos stands as one of our most continuously appreciated features. 

From solutions journalism to the use of AI in newsrooms, from how to do effective climate reporting to a database of native media across Europe, enlarging this database will continue to be a priority in the future.

The Solutions Journalism guide was really helpful when applying for the Solutions Journalism Accelerator grant, for which my application was successful.

-Freelancer - United Kingdom

The survey responses revealed some of the major aspects of the resources respondents appreciated. A significant 3.62% of the respondents commended the special focus on solutions journalism, which particularly helped them with their project. Our guides, in particular, were very informative and useful in engaging with their audience, hence instrumental in their work.

However, around 20% of participants suggested concrete improvements, including on accessibility, offering materials in multiple languages, and creating a centralised base of resources.

As journalism and media move rapidly towards digital, multimedia storytelling is becoming increasingly necessary. Other priority areas for participants are practical workshops that lead to actionable improvements in areas such as multimedia storytelling, video, and podcasting. 

Prioritise programs that support innovation and experimentation in media, especially in the digital space.

-Freelancer, Czech Republic

To innovate journalism, digital storytelling techniques need to become a part of journalists' toolkits.

-Freelancer, Belgium

Training in these areas can in fact help journalists and media professionals produce and share engaging, multi-platform content that attracts and retains audiences

Events

The survey sought to gauge how our events, both offline and online, are perceived as spaces to connect journalists across Europe. Our online and offline events are pivotal in connecting journalists across Europe.
Survey respondents were most interested in the topic of climate change, especially effective storytelling methods to get across its urgency. This is directly aligned with the EJC’s priorities. The 2023 News Impact Summit focused on climate change, exploring how journalists promote climate resilience and encourage impactful responses from policymakers.

Despite the perceived convenience of online interactions, participants were clear in the value of in-person interactions and the human connections they foster: 30% of survey respondents highlighted the need for more live events. This is particularly interesting as it suggests that, despite the convenience of online interactions—such as not needing to travel and the flexibility to access resources on one's own schedule—members still value and benefit from in-person interactions and human connections. 

How does the EJC bring together journalists and newsrooms?

Access to free resources and community networking are crucial to stay informed and connected. We need to emphasise collaboration, regularly assess impact, and cultivate a strong sense of community within the journalism ecosystem.

-Freelancer - Malta

A crucial aspect of this survey was for the EJC to see how to enhance one of its core missions: building a sustainable, cooperative network of journalists and media organisations.

The Journalism Innovation Network was born to achieve this, a dedicated community where everyone from media entrepreneurs to news innovators could share resources and ideas.
The participants in this survey were full-throated in their support of this vision, with the possibility of collaboration scoring particularly high.

One of the most prominent occasions where we value networking and building a community in journalism is the News Impact Summit. During these summits, journalists, editors, and media professionals are invited to debate the most critical themes and newest forms of storytelling.

Shaping EJC's Future Strategy

So what happens next?

The survey insights will be used to shape EJC's strategy across three sustainability pillars concretely:

Environmental Sustainability

Based on survey responses, developing training and workshops focused on environmental journalism is a strong starting point. Events like the News Impact Summit should include specific sessions on climate change and the environment, reflecting the high interest among participants. Additionally, prioritising the Climate Journalism Award would amplify diverse voices in environmental reporting. Further, supporting funding projects through the Solutions Journalism Accelerator, which financed six environment-focused projects between 2023 and 2024, would enhance coverage of environmental issues.

Economic Sustainability

We should increase funding for freelancers and local news initiatives to enhance economic sustainability. Notably, the 2024 Solutions Journalism Accelerator put out a call to support 12 freelancers with €8,500 each for projects using a solutions journalism approach. 

Broadening funding streams can be achieved by engaging other organisations, deepening partnerships, and centralising funding opportunities online, as recommended by 20% of respondents. This approach would facilitate journalists' access to funding and fundraising resources.

Social Sustainability - Community

Increasing live events and meetups would foster in-person interactions and deeper collaboration, enhancing social sustainability within the community. Developing platforms and tools for direct audience engagement with journalists, including contributing stories and providing insights, would further this effort. Strengthening the Journalism Innovation Network would provide more resources and a collaborative environment for media entrepreneurs and innovators, addressing the need for specialised support highlighted by respondents.

Final Thoughts

Our 2023 community survey highlights the diverse and evolving needs of journalists across Europe, offering valuable insights to guide our support efforts. These achievements are made possible by the generous support of our partners and funders, who contribute to a wide range of initiatives, events, projects, and funding opportunities.

Looking ahead, we envision continuing these fruitful collaborations to empower journalists further. Future support will focus on expanding specialised training in multimedia storytelling and climate journalism, building a centralised resource platform with multilingual guides and tools, and increasing networking opportunities through more live events and online gatherings. 

Additionally, partners and funders can contribute to mentorship programmes, provide modern equipment for high-quality work, and support research initiatives that explore new media trends and develop innovative tools for advancing journalism.