CIJI grants towards Journalism Trust Initiative certification
Context
The Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI) aims to enhance and reinstate the role of independent media as a reliable source of information for the public, and to support sustainable investigative journalism in Europe. Parts of the activities undertaken by CIJI include the adherence by media outlets to internationally recognized standards of media professionalism and ethics to ensure public trust. In this context, and as a member of the initiative, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is offering grants to support media organizations achieve the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification audit.
Eligibility criteria
- Legal Status and Location: Be an active and legally registered media organization (print, television, radio, or digital) operating in one of the 27 Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, or Sweden.
- Commitment to the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI): Demonstrate a high degree of compliance with the JTI certification criteria and/or a clear commitment to implementing the necessary processes and policies to achieve full certification.
- Transparency and Self-Assessment: Have completed the JTI self-assessment and published the corresponding Transparency Report on the official platform: https://www.jti-app.com.
How to apply
Applications will close at midnight CEST on 15 January 2026. Submit your application before this date via the online form: https://forms.gle/tcspx7DqchCpzAvC7
Selection process
Successful applicants will be contacted by RSF on 15 February 2026. The selection process consists of three stages:
- Eligibility: An administrative review of the completeness and accuracy of the applications conducted by the JTI team.
- Qualification: A technical review and pre-selection of applications by the JTI team based on an evaluation grid including: the geographical location of the media, its typology and editorial mission, editorial independence, publication frequency, financial disclosures, and its level of involvement, availability and motivation.
- Validation of grantees: A review and final approval of the pre-selected candidates by JTI’s external governing body, the Certification Council.
- Validation of grant amount: JTI audit grants range from €1,500 to €5,000. The exact amount depends on the quote from the certification body selected by RSF for each country. The cost of the audit depends on the media outlet’s size and the complexity of its editorial processes.
About the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CiJi)
The Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CiJi) brings together a diverse and resourceful group of partners from across Europe to address the challenges facing independent media and investigative journalism in the region. Coordinated by Tactical Tech (TT), this consortium includes Reporters without Borders (RSF), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Fundacja Reporterow (FR), Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), and Delfi. The project is co-funded by the European Union.
More about CiJi: https://www.ciji.info.
About Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI)
Journalism Trust Initiative (CWA 17493/2019) is an ISO-type standard conceived by and for news organisations to allow them to certify their editorial processes, transparency, ethics and responsibility policies through a trusted third-party. JTI provides a systemic approach to combat disinformation, and to foster a culture of transparency and responsibility in news publishing.
More about JTI: http://journalismtrustinitiative.org.
