The Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI), co-funded by the European Union, invites media outlets to apply for grants towards their Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification audit. JTI is an international ISO-type standard that promotes good governance, self-regulation, and independence in journalism.
Available Funding
CIJI will award up to six grants to support the costs of a JTI certification audit.
Grant amounts range between €1,500 and €5,000, depending on the needs and audit costs of the applicant organisation.
Who is eligible?
Eligible applicants are legally registered media organisations operating in one of the 27 European Union Member States that:
- Have completed their JTI self-assessment;
- Have published their JTI transparency report;
- Are committed to pursuing full JTI certification.
How to Apply
Applications are open from 11 June 2026 until 11 August 2026. Interested organisations can submit their application through the online form: https://forms.gle/tcspx7DqchCpzAvC7
About Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI)
JTI was developed in 2019 as an ISO-type international standard by roughly 130 experts from media outlets, media regulatory bodies, media associations and digital platforms. They worked to define the criteria of transparency, independence and ethics necessary for an industry standard applicable to all types of news sources. The idea of designing a self-regulatory mechanism applicable to all news sources worldwide was the initiative of the Paris-headquartered media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The JTI certification process has three stages. First, the introduction to the standard via JTI’s portal. Second, the self-evaluation by the media. Finally, as an option, the certifying audit. More than 2,450 media outlets in 131 countries use JTI. 1,460 are currently undergoing self-assessment, 860 published their transparency report, and 140 obtained JTI certification following an audit.
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 support independent media and journalists through resources, networking opportunities, and standards-based approaches for high-quality, ethical journalism.
CIJI is implemented by Tactical Tech, Free Press Unlimited, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Fundacja Reporterów, OBC Transeuropa, and Delfi, with support from the European Union.
