IJ4EU launches Freelancer Support Scheme Grant 2024

The scheme is designed to support journalists operating outside of newsroom structures who may be underserved by other journalism support schemes and who are willing and able to collaborate with others to launch investigations of importance to audiences at a local, national, regional or European level.

Topics

• IJ4EU is open to cross-border investigative projects on any topic. This includes, but is not limited to, corruption, illicit enrichment and financial crime, security, democracy and human rights, environment and climate change, and health. Projects must aim to reveal new information that is of relevance to the public in at least two Creative Europe countries.

Funding Information

• The scheme will provide around €500,000 in grants in 2024/25.

Benefits

• Grantees have six months to complete their projects. During these six months, in addition to grant funding, they also benefit from non-financial support.
  • Mentorship and training
    • Each awarded team will work with one or more carefully selected mentors according to how their needs evolve as they proceed with their projects. Teams can decide which team members will communicate with the mentor(s) throughout the programme.
  • Networking
    • In addition to the in-person networking opportunities for all IJ4EU grantees provided by the programme, EJC will organise a half-day online event bringing together each awarded cohort of the Freelancer Support Scheme at the start of their projects.

Eligibility Criteria

• Investigations developed for all formats — including print, broadcast, online media, documentary filmmaking and multi-platform storytelling — are eligible to receive support.
• To be eligible for the Freelancer Support Scheme, applications must be submitted by teams composed of at least two freelance journalists that meet the following criteria:
  • Teams must have members based in at least two European countries that have signed up to the full cross-sectoral strand of the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme, which provides core funding for IJ4EU.
  • Eligible countries include all 27 EU member states and the following non-EU countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Ukraine.
  • Eligibility is based on residency (where you live and work) and not nationality (citizenship).
  • Applications must be submitted in English.

For more information, visit IJ4EU.