- Announcing the Second Cohort of the SoJo Europe Program: A Diverse Collective of Newsrooms Driving Solutions Journalism Across Europe
We are thrilled to announce the selection of the second cohort of eight newsrooms for the SoJo Europe program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to foster solutions journalism across Europe. These newsrooms represent a diverse array of countries and media landscapes, each bringing unique perspectives and strengths to the program. This diversity is the cornerstone of the SoJo Europe program, promising rich, cross-border collaborations and a robust exchange of ideas that will significantly advance the practice and impact of solutions journalism in Europe.
We look forward to seeing the innovative stories and impactful collaborations that will emerge from this incredible cohort, and help redefine the landscape of European journalism.
1. Montenegrin Independent News Agency – MINA (Montenegro): an independent news cooperative, MINA is committed to the values of integrity, impartiality, and freedom from bias. With over 20 years of credibility, MINA delivers accurate news to its subscribers, with content distributed through Montenegrin media channels and online platforms, reaching tens of thousands of readers daily. MINA is the founder and member of Association of Balkans News Agency.
2. Crimean Center for Business and Cultural Cooperation “Ukrainian House” (Ukraine): The Crimean Center has been a key player in promoting independent journalism and providing a platform-Voice of Crimea– for the dissemination of objective information in Crimea. The platform provides reports on Crimea’s political, economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues. Voice of Crimea is dedicated to investigating the problems and offering solutions.
3. Albanian Center for Quality Journalism – ACQJ (Albania): An independent media organization focused on strengthening investigative journalism, media literacy, and public interest reporting in Albania, ACQJ empowers and trains young journalists, fosters media pluralism, and promotes transparency. ACQJ is dedicated to producing high-quality, fact-based journalism to combat disinformation, serving as a watchdog of public interests, and supporting a resilient journalism ecosystem in Albania.
4. Pozitivi.org (Albania): A pioneering media outlet, Pozitivi.org is the first and only platform in Albania focused on constructive journalism, covering topics like social change, gender equality, and gender-based violence, demographic issues, health, youth empowerment, and positive media narratives. Pozitivi.org produces documentaries, TV programs, multimedia campaigns, and social campaigns collaborating with global organizations like UNFPA, UNOPS, and World Vision Albania.
5. Okraj.cz (Czech Republic): Founded in 2024, Okraj.cz is a team of investigative journalists based in the Moravian-Silesian region, committed to delivering high-quality local news. Okraj.cz focuses on the region’s environmental and social challenges, political issues, education, and tackling misinformation, as well as addressing the concerns of marginalized communities and minorities, including the Roma. Okraj.cz engages a broader audience through social media, podcasts, and interactive activities, emphasizing the value of local journalism.
6. Asociația “Atlatszo Erdely Egyesulet” (Romania): Átlátszó Erdély is Romania’s only independent, nonprofit on-line newsroom focused on investigative journalism for the Hungarian community in Transylvania. Mainly publishing in Hungarian, Átlátszó Erdély also translates its most important stories into Romanian and English.
7. Zeitenspiegel Reportagen Reinhardt & Partner (Germany): Zeitenspiegel Reportagen, a reporters’ collective founded in 1985 by writers and photographers, contributes to news media outlets like Spiegel, Geo, Zeit, and Süddeutsche Zeitung. With bureaus worldwide, Zeitenspiegel Reportagen reports from the frontlines of crises – famine, war, and climate change effects – implementing solution-oriented journalism to inspire a change. An annual magazine, Mut, promotes constructive journalism and is published as a supplement in newspapers across Germany.
8. MOMUS (The Netherlands): A Dutch investigative journalism organization formerly known as Platform Authentieke Journalistiek, investigates trade agreements, climate policy, and corporate lobbying. Their rebrand reflects a shift towards transparency, participation and solutions-oriented reporting. MOMUS fosters public engagement by inviting audiences to engage directly with the investigation and employs innovative methods like podcasts, illustrated stories, videos, data analysis and AI tools, all while holding power accountable and promoting trust between journalism and the public.
Read more about the ten newsrooms part of the first cohort of the SoJo Europe Program.
- New Survey of Europe’s Journalists
March 27, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Survey of Europe’s Journalists Finds More than 60% Are Forced To Work Other Jobs
The first new Europe-wide survey of the state of journalist profession in nearly a decade raises serious concerns about the viability of the profession, as well as the quality and independence of the free press. The survey of journalists in 33 European countries found:
*62% of Freelancers Are Forced to Work Other Jobs
*60% Have Faced Burnout
*52% Are Worried About AI
Paris, March 27, 2025 – A new survey of journalists across Europe reveals a troubling state of the profession, including 60% of respondents who report an experience with burnout and 62% of them are forced to supplement their income with other types of work to make ends meet.
More than 52% of respondents said they were concerned about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the journalism profession.
The survey, conducted by two European Union-funded news industry projects, is the first Europe-wide study on the state of the profession since 2015. It comes as the news media struggles financially, and continues to cut staff positions and shift to outsourcing journalism work to freelancers. The responses of those surveyed highlights growing concerns over financial security and mental health for journalism professionals, and its implications for press freedom.
To sustain themselves, a majority of journalists are increasingly turning to other sources of work: public relations (37%), teaching (34%), non-profit work (20%), content marketing (19%), and even jobs like bartending, real estate, and parcel delivery. This reliance on outside jobs raises critical concerns about potential conflicts of interest and editorial independence, which could undermine journalistic integrity.
The report was carried out by the EU-supported Taktak project, in collaboration with Display Europe, and is based on 436 survey responses collected from journalists in 33 European countries and 13 languages.
“If the news industry continues its shift to a freelance-dominated model, we will need to do a much better job of taking care of freelancers,” said Jeff Israely, co-founder of Paris-based media Worldcrunch, the project lead on Taktak.
“The hunt for new revenue sources continues to be crucial. But we’ve learned over the past decade that ensuring the quality of journalism is the only sustainable way to get there. And that requires having people who can dedicate their professional lives to the work of journalism.”
Lars Boering, Director of the European Journalism Centre, said better understanding is needed about what support freelance journalists need. “Surveys to assess the current situation for freelancers are crucial to find ways to make the working conditions and satisfaction of working as a journalist much better,” Boering said. “While tools and opportunities become more available for freelance journalists, using platforms on which they can publish themselves, many are working primarily for media that can do better.”
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Despite widespread agreement among news professionals that artificial intelligence tools cannot substitute the work of human professionals, there is concern that news companies may cite AI as an excuse to cut costs, including reducing pay for journalists. Of those surveyed, 16% said they were very concerned about AI’s impact on the journalism profession and 36% said they were somewhat concerned. Only 7% said they weren’t concerned at all.
The findings reveal widespread precarious working conditions in the industry, with more than half of respondents to the survey (52%) are freelancers or work under non-employment contracts, facing low pay, lack of social benefits, and financial instability. Even among those with full-time employment, restrictive work environments and limited career growth remain challenges.
Financial insecurity is cited as a key issue: 46% of journalists report dissatisfaction with their income, while over 50% struggle to cover their families’ needs. The report also found that 60% of journalists have experienced burnout, with many citing unstable job conditions, administrative burdens, and declining demand for quality journalism.
Despite these challenges, passion for the profession remains strong: 65% of journalists say they expect to still be in journalism in five years.
Still, without better pay, secure contracts, and structural support, the growing financial pressures on journalists threaten the integrity and quality of news reporting, underscoring the urgent need for structural reforms to support independent journalism.
The rise of freelance journalism in Europe is a structural shift in the media industry, as shrinking newsroom budgets have forced outlets to rely more on independent journalists. While it is unclear how big a percentage of the overall workforce freelancers represent across Europe, the Deutsche Journalistinnen- und Journalisten-Union (dju) in Germany reports that about two-thirds of its members identify as freelance journalists.
The Taktak survey is of particular relevance because it is the first comprehensive survey of freelance journalists in Europe since a 2015 report from the European Federation of Journalists.
In 2022, the European Journalism Centre conducted a mapping exercise to see how it could better serve freelance journalists in Europe.
You can access the full report here.
For further information and interviews, please contact: Irene Caselli, Taktak project manager, irene.caselli@worldcrunch.com
About Taktak
Taktak is building a new payment solution designed by and for media organizations and journalists. It is supported by the Creative Europe program of the European Union. Taktak aims to generate new revenue streams for news publishers and independent journalists, with an innovative donation solution that engages users and allows the beneficiaries to join forces through a dynamic revenue-share option. The tool will trigger donations on a per-article basis, with the possibility for the revenue to be split between journalists and publishers with tools that allow the reader to choose the share for each party.
About Display Europe
Displayeurope.eu is a ground-breaking media platform anchored in public values. The platform provides citizens across the continent access to trustworthy information and a picture of Europe that is not usually conveyed by mainstream or national media. Through translation, syndication and originally-created-content displayeurope.eu gathers and disseminates trustworthy press from across Europe.
- Design Thinking workshop in Chisinau
✨On March 21-22, 2025, journalists and media professionals from Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, France and Romania came together in Chișinău for an intensive 1.5-day Design Thinking training, aimed at developing innovative, user-centered solutions to challenges in the media sector.
Participants explored each phase of the design thinking process, from empathy-driven user interviews to hands-on prototyping and pitching. Stepping out of their comfort zones, they conducted real interviews on the streets of Chișinău to uncover how local audiences consume and perceive news and media. These insights sparked a wave of creative ideas, for example on how to make media more inclusive for seniors.
The training concluded with a prototype showcase, where participants presented early concepts for their products. All participants are now invited to apply for microgrants to bring their ideas to life in their newsrooms.
- 🌍 Climate Solutions: Cross-Border Journalism in Action
Our SoJo Europe cohort has been hard at work investigating solutions to climate challenges across Europe. We’re proud to showcase three powerful cross-border projects:
🌊 Flooded Futures: Protecting Vulnerable Communities – How at-risk regions are adapting to rising waters. Read more
✈️ Flight Paths to a Greener Urban Future – Can aviation innovations reshape sustainable city life? Read more
☀️ Solar Harvest – Exploring how solar energy is transforming communities. Read moreThese projects are a testament to the power of collaboration and the impact of solutions-oriented storytelling.
- 🎥 Relive the First European SoJo Summit!
European Solutions Journalism Summit 2024
What a gathering it was! In September 2024, nearly 100 solutions journalism enthusiasts from 30 countries came together in Prague for the first-ever European Solutions Journalism Summit. It was an incredible two days of learning, sharing, and building connections to advance impactful storytelling across Europe. Watch the event highlight video here and feel the energy of the movement to redefine the future of journalism! #ESJS2024
- 📢New Resource: Making Solutions Journalism Sustainable
How can newsrooms turn solutions journalism into a successful, revenue-generating model? Our SoJo Europe program has released a series of insightful, beautifully illustrated guides to help journalists, editors, and media managers integrate solutions reporting into their editorial culture—while making it financially viable.
Key topics include:
📝 Creating an Editorial Cultural Shift – How to embed solutions journalism in newsroom workflows.
📈 Attracting Subscribers with a Different Editorial Approach – How engaging audiences through editorial innovations is driving support for certain newsrooms.
💰 Sponsorships, Advertising & Special Projects – How to explore commercial opportunities to generate revenue.
🏛 Securing Institutional Funding – How to access public or philanthropic funding for solutions coverage.
These resources offer practical insights from newsrooms successfully implementing solutions journalism. Ready to dive in? - Inspiring Week in Prague, Belgrade, and Novi Sad
✨From February 16th to 21st, a group of 25 media professionals from Nordic and Western European countries embarked on a six-day study tour to Prague, Belgrade, and Novi Sad. The visit was part of Constructive News: Fostering Solutions Journalism Across Europe, a project led by Transitions in partnership with Journalismfund Europe (Belgium), the Constructive Institute (Denmark), and SEENPM. This trip followed an earlier study tour in October 2024, during which journalists from Central and Eastern Europe visited Scandinavian countries.
The study tour aimed to provide participants with an opportunity to explore innovative and inspiring journalism in a region at the forefront of democracy building. Journalists visited a diverse range of media outlets—from major national and international organizations such as Seznam, Czech Radio, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague, to smaller, community-driven platforms like Heroine magazine in Prague, Radio021 in Novi Sad, Storyteller in Bački Petrovac, and the Novi Sad School of Journalism. Despite facing numerous challenges, these outlets have successfully carved out a meaningful and impactful presence in their respective media landscapes.
The program offered valuable insights into the transformation of media in two countries with a shared communist past. In both the Czech Republic and Serbia, journalists continue to navigate a complex environment marked by growing foreign influence, propaganda, commercial pressures, and political constraints. Yet, many remain resilient, producing impactful journalism through approaches such as solutions journalism, satire, long-form storytelling, and community-focused reporting.
Beyond exploring media landscapes, the six-day program served as a platform for exchanging experiences and discussing how constructive and solutions journalism can be effectively practiced across different political and economic contexts.
- 🎧 New Podcast Episode: Cracking the Code of Great Solutions Journalism
What makes a solutions journalism story truly compelling? How do editors ensure rigorous, evidence-based reporting without losing the narrative spark?
We’re back with a fresh episode of The Upward Spiral, where our senior editor, Ky Krauthamer, and Executive Director, Jeremy Druker, break it all down:
👉 How to strike the right balance between storytelling and accuracy
👉 Fact-checking strategies that strengthen credibility
👉 The best narrative structures for SoJo stories
This episode is packed with insights for journalists and editors alike. Tune in now and get inspired! 🎧 Listen here - Level Up: Levelling Up Media Literacy Education for Older Europeans through Gamification
LEVEL UP is an innovative project aimed at strengthening media literacy among older citizens (60+) in Europe, particularly in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Spain. Its goal is to help them identify misinformation in areas such as health, science, climate, artificial intelligence, and online scams. The project’s key tool is a multilingual educational video game with five thematic levels, offering interactive learning through a Q&A format. The system allows content customization based on the user’s language and country. Additionally, the project includes workshops for seniors and training programs for professionals working with them. The educational materials will be tested with senior focus groups to ensure they meet their needs. A media literacy awareness campaign will feature public forums, festivals, and exhibitions where visitors can explore the project and try the educational game.
Supporters/funders: European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Learn more: maldita.es and Kreativní Evropa MEDIA.
- 2025 Election Coverage Project
The 2025 Election Coverage Project is a continuation of work done by Transitions in 2024 to take a different approach toward political coverage and audience engagement to better serve democracy. In this iteration, one European newsroom will be chosen to participate in the project for change with training, mentorship, and a grant to support them. The newsroom will learn to utilize solutions journalism and public engagement to form their reporting with the goal of fostering less polarization and more constructive civic engagement. This type of work is incredibly important because of the increased distrust in the media that has affected voter turnout significantly, and therefore diminishes the impact for good that the democratic process can uplift.
Supporters/funders: Evens Foundation
Runners/partnerships: SJN, Transitions
Key points: Solutions journalism, civic engagement, elections coverage
- Bosnian Educators and Journalists Explore Media Literacy Strategies in Prague: A Study Tour on Fighting Disinformation
A group of ten educators and journalists from Bosnia went on a study tour to Prague between 20 and 23 October to learn about methods of media and information literacy education in the Czech Republic. The visit took place as part of Media Smart: Building resilience to disinformation through training programs for journalists, educators and families, a project by Transitions and Mediacentar Sarajevo.
The group visited the elementary school Kunratice, where Tomáš Titěra, deputy director for digitization and project and financial management, presented the school’s MIL activities. They then had a meeting with representatives of the Czech Radio to learn about the project “Ověřovna a ověřovna na vlastní kůži” iRozhlas (stylized as iROZHLAS), an internet news server of the Czech Radio.
Táňa Abrhámová and Anja Grabovac presented to the group the activities of Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO) an international academic consortium focusing on activities concerning digital transformation and information disruptions primarily in Central Europe.
On the second work day of the tour the group visited Seznam.cz, a unique internet news service, where Peter Jančárik presented the outlet’s efforts to evaluate media quality and fight disinformation, those relying on the use of artificial intelligence in particular.
The day ended with a visit to the City Library of Prague, where Veronika Spišáková presented librarians’ MIL initiatives.
Before their return to Bosnia, the group had an extended meeting with Transitions and Mediacentar to evaluate the visit and consider possible application of some of the methods of teaching MIL they learned about.
”It will be interesting to implement the ideas we got here. We will try to involve both the teachers and librarians at schools to help them adopt a new approach to teaching media literacy,” said Ivana Sivric of the Faculty of Philosophy in Mostar. “Study tours such as this one are enriching both professionally in terms of gaining knowledge and culturally,” added Ernad Osmic, a teacher at Fourth Elementary School in Brcko.
The Media Smart project is implemented with support from the Czech Republic’s Official Transition Program
- Inspiring Week in Scandinavia
October 7 – 11, 2024 – Three of our team members – Meenal Thakur and Lucie Černá from our SoJo Team and Blanka Doležalová, our financial manager, wrapped up an incredible week traveling through Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm alongside 30 fellow editors and journalists from 15 countries, primarily from the Balkans region.
This study tour, organised by the Constructive Institute, as part of the larger SoJo Europe program, led by Transitions, was a journey of learning, exchange, and inspiration – all centered around constructive journalism as a catalyst for positive change in Scandinavia and how media practitioners in Central and Eastern Europe can draw inspiration from their Scandinavian counterparts.
The group visited key locations including a journalism conference at sea between Copenhagen and Oslo, the Nobel Peace Center, Rystad Energy, and NRK in Oslo; SVT and Gapminder in Stockholm; and Børsen, Politiken, and Zetland in Copenhagen.
The knowledge shared and connections made will continue to inspire us as we strive to reshape journalism for the better.
- Barcamp 2024: AI for seniors
On October 3-4, 2024, took place the fifth annual Barcamp event, organized by Transitions in collaboration with Elpida and supported by Google, focusing on enhancing media literacy among seniors. This year’s theme, ‘AI Hands-On,’ emphasized the opportunity for participants to try and explore various AI tools firsthand over two days. The event opened with a panel discussion moderated by Filip Titlbach, featuring leading figures in AI research and practice, such as Václav Moravec (journalist and educator), Lenka Kučerová (Prg.ai), Petr Gongala (Demagog.cz), and Ondřej Hrách (Aignos). This year also saw the introduction of the new ‘AI Senior Expert Group,’ which actively explores AI tools to uncover practical applications for older adults in daily life. Both Transitions and Elpida have successfully challenged myths about how seniors spend their free time and their relationship with technology, proving that older adults are eager to engage with modern advancements. The event also featured specialized workshops and a unique program for participants of the SEFTE (Senior Friendly Teacher) Lecturer Academy.
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