Events

Events

Conferences | Workshops | Training

Media4Europe Conference: Business Transformation Of News Media – Content Sharing, Data And Stars4Media

October 6th, 2021 | 12:00 PM – 2:20 PM (CET)

The #Media4Europe Conference covers several policy and media infrastructure projects. These initiatives focus on fostering a healthy digital ecosystem, notably upskilling media professionals and embracing AI and Data automation in NEWS Media. As a part of rebalancing the market from GAFA gatekeepers, media competitiveness serves democracy and content disinformation strategy. In line with media sector crises and the EU priorities, Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV) is working on them with different consortia, preparing larger future NEWS programmes.

The Content Sharing Study analyses the feasibility of a European online platform for quality news. The Consortium is led by IDATE DigiWorld and includes experts in law, cross-border media and advertising data.

The strategy study on the media dataspaces will kick-off in October 2021 on behalf of the DG CONNECT. Consortium partners also include PwC (EU Service), University of Leuven and Carsa. Both strategy studies now shed light on funding calls for content and data-sharing platforms.

Media innovations will take center stage during the Media4Europe conference with Stars4Media that supports upskilling of media professionals from 76 media through cross-border projects on media innovation. Stars4Media was a pilot project voted by the European parliament, now implemented by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

Under the NEWS initiative of the EU’s media and democracy Actional Plan (MAAP) expect a further focus on business and newsroom transformation. Make sure not to miss this discussion converging both media and policy trends!

Programme overview:

12:00 – 12:30 Registration & light lunch (at EURACTIV premises)

12:30 – 12:35 Opening speech

12:35 – 12:45 Content Sharing Study
– Presentation of findings and recommendations by Marc Sundermann, Europe’s MediaLab and Jacques Bajon, IDATE

12:45 – 12:55: Keynote speech
– Opening remarks by European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová

12:55 – 13:40 Highlight session on Industrial Strategy and Data (High Level Panel Discussion) and Q&A
– High-level public session interventions, in person from the EURACTIV studios, moderated by Christophe Leclercq

13:40 – 13:50 Short break

13:50 – 14:20: Stars4Media: presenting Second Edition Macro-themes + discussion with selected beneficiaries
– Moderated by Stephen Fozard, Stars4Media Consortium Partner

14:20 – 14:30 Closing session

Moderators:

Christophe Leclercq, EURACTIV & Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV) Founder
Stephen Fozard, Project Director, Global Alliance for Media Innovation project, WAN-IFRA

REGISTER HERE!

#Stars4Media: Pitching Sessions for Paired candidates

27 – 28 MAY 2021

The first round of Stars4Media Call for Initiatives concluded successfully on the 1st of May with the 82 received proposals. Now, the applicants can bring their ideas further by taking part in the #Stars4Media Lab Pitching Sessions.

Spread through four days, the event will follow the online panel session offering the applicants an opportunity to pitch their ideas in front of the jury composed of media professionals.

Have you submitted a proposal for an initiative as a paired candidate? Congratulations! Now you can book your 10’ min session between 27th and 28th of May and take the occasion to present your idea together with two of your colleagues in your own words before the official deliberation.

If you/your initiative leader did not receive a personalized link to book a pitching slot, please contact us at info@stars4media.eu

One slot is available per initiative
Only one representative per initiative should book the Pitching Session
Only those representatives that previously booked the pitching session will be able to attend, together with two colleagues

Are you a media professional interested in taking part in the Stars4Media? Did you miss the first Call for Initiatives? We have good news – the Second Call for Initiatives is currently open so send your applications before the 1st of July! Join the discussion online and follow & share #Stars4Media on Twitter!

Events

#Stars4Media: Pitching Sessions for Unpaired Candidates

25 – 26 MAY 2021

Spread through four days, the event will follow the online panel session offering the applicants an opportunity to pitch their ideas in front of the jury composed of media professionals.

Have you submitted a proposal for an initiative, as an unpaired candidate? Maybe you were in a dialogue with a potential partner and waiting for the final confirmation of the partnership, or still in doubt about a partnership – no need to worry!

You can book your 15’ min session between the 25th and 26th of May and take the occasion to present your idea with an update on the partnership and to discuss it with the jury before the official deliberation. If you/your initiative leader did not receive a personalized link to book a pitching slot, please contact us at info@stars4media.eu

One slot is available per initiative
Only one representative per initiative should book the Pitching Session
Only those representatives that previously booked the pitching session will be able to attend, together with two colleagues

Media4Europe Summit: towards a healthy European news media sector?

March 3rd, 2021 | Online and in Brussels

The Media4Europe Summit was the launching event of the second edition of the Stars4Media innovation exchange programme. This event was articulated in two parts (see the event programme):

Stars4Media session: insights and best practices from tech and innovation experts on tech innovation for newsrooms
High-Level Policy debate: “Towards a healthy European News Media sector?”

Watch the highlight video and read more about the event takeaways: Quality news suffers, skills and funding are required.

October 2020

The Media4Europe virtual conference in October 2020 connected media innovators, policy makers and Stars4media participants to discuss how to accelerate innovation in the news media. Programme:
– Stars4Media networking sessions: media professionals participating in the Stars4Media training programme presented their initiatives, and provided feedback on how to improve the project
– Policy debate and “Stars4Media Prizes”
Panellists: Mogens Bjerregård, President of the European Federation of Journalists; Fernando de Yarza López-Madrazo, President of WAN-IFRA; Audrius Perkauskas, Deputy Head of Unit, Audiovisual and Media Services Policy, DG CONNECT; MEP Dace Melbarde (ECR); MEP Margarida Marques (S&D); MEP Ramona Strugariu (Renew Europe); MEP Damian Boeselager (Greens). Read here the press release focused on this event, and watch the event video here.

#Media4Democracy events series

Europe’s Media Lab #Media4Democracy was a series of events designed to enrich the conversation on the media sector’s needs at EU level, supported by EU40, EFJ, Civico Europa, EMMA, News Media Europe, Re-Imagine Europa and sponsored by Equinor (June 2019).

Policy Forum ‘VP Democracy’ for Sound Platforms & Independent Media: read the article about this event and watch the highlights video
Networking event: read the press release and watch the video

Learn more

June 2019

April 2019

EP Elections 2019 | Electoral debate with French candidates

With LesFrancais.press we co-organised the event: “Débat des candidats français de l’étranger pour les élections européennes”. This debate was moderated by Christophe Leclercq, and key issues were addressed: environment, economy and taxes, defence, Brexit and migration. It gathered about 150 participants and 6 French candidates from the main political parties. The debate was broadcast on French Radio, and it reached more than 6000 people. Read here the article about this event.

Can the EU do more for a healthy media sector?

Healthy democracies need a healthy media sector. Yet, faced with multiple attacks and challenges, especially technological and financial, the sector needs a coordinated response.

Media independence for quality debates: this exchange on freedom of the press in Europe was moderated by Stephen Boucher, and gathered MEP Benedek Jávor (Greens), Reporters Sans Frontières and other high-level speakers.
Keynote speech by Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
What can the EU do for the media sector’s sustainability: this panel was moderated by Christophe Leclercq and it brought together key MEPs such as Elmar Brok (EPP) and Maria João Rodrigues (S&D).

Read EURACTIV’s article on this event, by Samuel Stolton ”EU needs to ‘double efforts’ in the fight against disinformation, Gabriel says“, and watch the video of the event here.

January 2019

Journalism Funders Forum: Expert Circle, Brussels

23/10/2018

Europe’s media sector needs to adapt not only to ever-changing technologies, but also to a moving political environment and new consumer habits. In this context, a smart alliance of private and public funders is necessary to act nimbly. With this in mind, the European Journalism Centre and Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV) brought together 40 representatives of philanthropic foundations, EU institutions and the media sector.

Learn more

Contre la désinformation : quelle stratégie européenne des médias ?

15/10/2018

Y a-t-il une stratégie européenne des médias ? Celle-ci est-elle essentielle pour la santé de l’UE et de la démocratie ? C’est par un consensus clair entre les participants que s’est ouverte la conversation conviée par l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie et Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV). Face aux multiples défis auquel est confronté le secteur des médias, l’innovation technologique est cruciale.

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2018 Brussels DisinfoLab

11/04/2018

The event “Disinformation – the playbook and how to fight it: 2018 Brussels DisinfoLab” co-organised by EUDisinfoLab and the Atlantic Council, brought together 80 participants and high-level experts. The goal of the event was to shed light on disinformation operations not only in the EU, but also globally. Disinformation, just as “fake news” among the population, is a buzz word among Brussels officials and experts. There is a consensus that it’s a priority for Western societies to fight it, but often without an understanding of the complexity of the issue.

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CODES: Debating Euroscepticism

31/01/2018

In January 2018, we organised an interactive workshop showcasing the results of the CODES project co-funded by “Europe for Citizens”. Through public debates in 6 different countries, the CODES project identified the sources of Euroscepticism and developed tools to communicate EU policies at local level. The project developed this innovative communication strategy based on a bottom-up approach: Being active, less formal and going local: Adjusting communication strategy.

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Rising stars for media cooperation

26/09/2017

Key MEPs, top media practitioners and academics led a discussion on the future of media cooperation and innovation. The conference confirmed that cross-border on-the-job exchanges and training are pioneering tools to tackle the crisis of the European media sector. The concept is to exchange up-and-coming professionals (“rising stars”) to develop innovative and sustainable solutions. The ultimate goal is to share best practices among senior media management.

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Bridging stakeholders

Our events

Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV) organises policy stakeholder events in Brussels. We host panel discussions moderated by a relevant expert, with 4-10 high-level speakers.

We gather panellists and participants, from all EU institutions, including MEPs, European and national associations and organisations, private companies, NGOs, think tanks, academia and media. We use different formats, such as conference, fishbowl, roundtable, and interactive workshops.

Training and workshops

We also promote debates and sharing of best practices, through training programmes, innovation exchange and interactive workshops. In particular, we provide extensive training for both its team members and media professionals from third party organisations.

In cooperation with our partners, universities and foundations, we organise lively workshops, involving all participants, developing skills and stimulating innovative approaches.

Partners' Events

We also address and co-organise events with our partners. Our goal, above all, is to encourage the development of projects, activities and creative ideas focused on the future of journalism and democracies.