Why journalism intermediaries matter and why funding is yes, and.

Instead of producing journalism ourselves, we enable others to do so more sustainably, collaboratively, and with greater impact. Intermediaries like the EJC provide the infrastructure, coordination, and strategic support that allow journalism to adapt to a rapidly evolving environment. That essential support is different from funds that directly give money to or invest in media or journalism organisations.

In practice, journalism intermediaries facilitate regrant institutional funding across Europe, creating a firewall between funders and editorial decision-making. At the same time, we strengthen capacity through training, fellowships, coaching, and shared services. We convene networks and coalitions that enable cross-border collaboration. We connect journalism to technology, academia, civil society, and policy spaces.

Why fundraising for intermediaries is often challenging

Intermediaries play an essential yet often unseen connecting role. Much of our work happens behind the scenes: aligning partners, designing systems, building shared infrastructure, and ensuring accountability across complex, multi-country initiatives.

Because this work is less visible than a single newsroom or reporting project, it is sometimes misunderstood as “overhead”. In reality, it is the enabling infrastructure that makes journalism programmes independent, scalable, and sustainable.

Intermediaries focus on systems rather than single outputs, on long-term capacity rather than short-term delivery, and on collective impact rather than individual success stories. Intermediaries are critical to the sector's health. Unfortunately, we hear too often: “Great work, but we do not fund intermediaries.”

Why fund journalism intermediaries?

Funding intermediaries seem to require a different conversation: one centred on strategy, scale, resilience, and the future of journalism as a public good. For funders, donors, and others thinking about supporting an organisation like the EJC, the reasons are clear to support:

• They amplify impact
  A single investment in an intermediary can support dozens or even hundreds of newsrooms, journalists, and collaborative projects across different countries and regions.
  
• They create what does not yet exist.
  From shared tools and funding mechanisms to learning communities and cross-border networks, intermediaries foster the conditions that help journalism thrive.
  
• They take a forward-looking approach.
  While many news organisations focus on immediate survival needs, intermediaries are investing in what the sector will require in the future: new skills, trusted standards, sustainable models, and stronger collaboration.
  
• They are trusted bridge builders and connectors
  Good intermediaries understand both the language of journalists and media organisations, and that of funders. They translate needs, handle complexity, and build bridges that might not otherwise be there.

Intermediaries do not divert resources away from journalism.  They make it possible that more funding reaches journalists faster, more strategically, and with better support structures in place for long-term sustainability. Intermediaries do the essential work: designing funding mechanisms, reducing administrative burdens, fostering collaboration, and aligning efforts across the ecosystem.

It is not an either-or choice between funding journalism and media directly and funding intermediaries. Both approaches strengthen the sector in different ways. Direct funding sustains reporting. Intermediary funding sustains the system that enables that reporting.

The question is not which one to choose. It is about ensuring both are adequately supported.

It is yes, and.