Initially launched as a pilot programme and co-funded twice by the European Commission under the DG Connect Call for proposal “Exchange of media ‘rising stars’ to speed up innovation and increase cross-border coverage”, Stars4Media programme was created to foster collaboration among media professionals named as Europe’s “rising stars”, with the aim of accelerating media innovation and enhancing cross-border reporting and cooperation. The initiative supported the sector’s transformation through a bottom-up approach, encouraging media companies and freelance journalists from across the EU to work together on concrete cross-border projects. These initiatives enabled participants to experiment with new ideas, adopt emerging technologies, and explore sustainable business models.
First Edition (2019–2020): Pilot project, building the Europe’s “rising stars”
The first edition of Stars4Media marked the launch of this unique media innovation programme. It brought together 105 professionals from 42 organisations across 17 countries. Over the course of 21 initiatives, participants tested new storytelling formats, explored digital tools, and laid the groundwork for lasting international partnerships. The pilot edition confirmed a clear need for structured support for cross-border experimentation in the media sector.
Second Edition (2021–2022): Expansion of the Community
With increased interest and participation, the second edition saw 185 professionals from 76 media organisations take part in 30 collaborative projects. These initiatives focused on urgent topics such as constructive journalism, data reporting, revenue models and audience engagement. This edition more than doubled the scope of the pilot, reinforcing Stars4Media’s role as a catalyst for innovation and cross-border cooperation in European journalism.
Third Edition-Stars4Media NEWS (2022–2024): Support the long-term transformation
The third and most structured edition, Stars4Media NEWS, introduced a two-phase approach to support deeper and more sustainable change. In the initial phase, 14 projects tested transformative ideas. Nine of them continued into the second phase, refining their concepts with the help of targeted coaching and additional funding. Projects ranged from AI-enhanced newsrooms to multilingual podcast production and community-based subscriptions. The programme demonstrated that tailored mentoring, a flexible framework and cross-border knowledge exchange can significantly accelerate innovation and resilience in media organisations.
A Sustainable vision for Media’s future
Beyond its immediate results, Stars4Media has established a growing community of more than 500 professionals and shown the potential of EU-supported, journalist-led transformation. With its experience, network and model, the initiative is now poised to become a long-term hub for media innovation by fostering collaboration, offering training and supporting the next wave of change in Europe’s media landscape.
Media supported so far
