“News media in this region are facing existential challenges which are particular to this political and financial moment for their organizations,” said Nino Daniela, IFPIM Senior Adviser for Eastern Europe. “Our grantees have a pivotal role to play to provide trustworthy, fact-based reporting in a sea of mis- and disinformation. Too much is at stake for these news outlets to not have time and space to develop a sustainable way forward,” she said.

The infusion of financial support to five trusted digital, print and broadcast media outlets comes in the lead-up to pivotal October presidential and parliamentary elections in Moldova and Georgia respectively, enabling critical coverage of the elections. 

Launched in 2022 to provide urgently needed support to public interest news media organizations under stress, the International Fund channels multilateral support towards the survival of independent news media, allowing media organizations time to strengthen their content offering and to innovate for new, robust financial models. The International Fund also supports initiatives to establish new policy, regulatory and business models for independent journalism, and invests in solutions allowing news organizations to leverage technological innovation, such as AI.

“Independent media organizations across Eastern Europe are facing significant headwinds at a time when their work and editorial independence could not be more important,” said Nishant Lalwani, CEO of the International Fund. “Many are seeing atrophying revenue streams, while they also navigate politically driven constraints on coverage. The International Fund strongly believes in the necessity of independent media coverage to democratic processes.”

While the news outlets receiving new grant support in Moldova and Georgia are diverse in terms of audiences and the focus of news coverage, all have a track record of between seven and twenty years, informing their respective audiences. Consistent with the International Fund’s grant-making model, they have been rigorously vetted for robust editorial standards and fact-based news coverage. 

The digital news platform Diezmedia caters largely to younger news consumers in Moldova, and shares information and in-depth explainers about current events, as well as practical information about education and job opportunities. Diez plans to make use of new grant support to further expand coverage, with a particular focus on election-related content, in order to meet the information needs of younger Moldovans.

NewsMaker, another prominent national online media outlet offers content in both Romanian and Russian and for presenting diverse perspectives in a variety of formats, including news articles, investigative pieces, features, visuals, and multimedia content. 

Serving broadcast audiences, TV8 is one of the most popular TV stations in Moldova, providing high quality national news and current affairs coverage in both Romanian and Russian. With grant support, TV8 plans to expand its online presence, including offering a range of election coverage such as bulletins, public surveys and debates, and expand its reach to Moldovans, both within the country and abroad.

Ziarul de Garda has developed into one of the most prominent and high-quality investigative media outlets in Moldova, expanding from its original print format to both print and digital news coverage.  Over two decades, Ziarul de Garda has become known for holding power to account, with investigations credited with spurring resignations by corrupt officials, sanctions, and criminal investigations. As a new grantee of the International Fund, Ziarul de Garda plans to use funds to experiment with new formats and information channels to strengthen its business model and broaden the reach of its online presence.

Studio Monitori is respected for in-depth investigations and documentaries which have exposed corruption and human rights violations over the organization’s 17-year track record. Grant support will assist Studio Monitori to continue its work, which also includes  advocacy for freedom of expression, access to public information, and the rule of law in Georgia. Studio Monitori joins a set of other public interest media organizations in Georgia receiving grant support from the International Fund which are working under increasing government pressure, and struggling to reach audiences in a polarized information ecosystem which is rife with disinformation.