Stars4Media FACTCHECKING Consortium Meeting
Event date: 19th April 2023
Stars4Media NEWS – First Q&A for potential applicants
May 18th, 2022
Applying for programs like Stars4Media NEWS may feel daunting, however fear not we are here to answer all your questions. Following the launch of the Call for proposals, we organised two Q&A sessions for all interested applicants.
You are welcome to attend if your time allows. Please also save the dates for the second session of Q&A on the 10th of June at 14h to 15h
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86451234635?pwd=Tm80SW00REpHcVE1YVVCT2E1Q1hHQT09
Media4Europe Conference: Stars4Media as key to media transformation & democracy building
May 12th, 2022
The Stars4Media consortium partners (second edition and NEWS combined) are proud to present the upcoming #Media4Europe Conference scheduled for 12 May. The event will focus on Stars4Media as key for media transformation and democracy.
Structured in two parts, the Conference will look towards the next phase of the programme called Stars4Media NEWS. Furthermore,it will also serve as an occasion to award the most successful second edition innovations.
The event is part of the #Media4Europe series of events. These are opportunities to foster discussion about the European media sector, continuing the conversations from the last #Media4Europe event that took place inOctober 2021.
The Conference will take place in a hybrid format at the EURACTIV Brussels offices and online, focusing on:
- Sustainability of Stars4Media Second Edition innovation
- Business and newsroom transformation enabled by the Stars4Media NEWS
- Opportunities for East-West cooperation
The event will be moderated by Christophe Leclercq, Chairman of Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV), and there will be a short Q&A session with the participants. A highlight video summarising the debate and the speakers’ interventions will be promoted after the event. The Conference will also be an opportunity to meet media and tech professionals who benefitted from the Stars4Media second edition and discover more about their ideas.
Programme overview:
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome and intro
10:30 – 11:30 Way forward: Stars4Media NEWS
Panel discussion on the business transformation of news media:
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:30 Award ceremony for Stars4Media 2nd edition
Explain the award criteria + presenting the winners + jury appreciation
12:30 – 14:00 Networking lunch followed by community interactive session for beneficiaries only
14:00 – 16:30 Discussion presentation of Stars4Media NEWS opportunities, in two parallel tracks (not hybrid, to avoid slowing down): a) In-person b) open Zoom
Media4Europe Conference: Business Transformation Of News Media – Content Sharing, Data And Stars4Media
October 6th, 2021
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:
12:35 – 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 – in person from the EURACTIV studios, moderated by Christophe Leclercq
13:50 – 14:20: Stars4Media: presenting Second Edition Macro-themes, and discussion with selected beneficiaries – Moderated by Stephen Fozard, Stars4Media Consortium Partner
Moderators:
Christophe Leclercq, EURACTIV & Europe’s MediaLab (Fondation EURACTIV) Founder
Stephen Fozard, Project Director, Global Alliance for Media Innovation project, WAN-IFRA
#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!
#Stars4Media: Pitching Sessions for Unpaired Candidates
25 – 26 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 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
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!
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.
The Media4Europe virtual conference held 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 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 the EU level, supported by EU40, EFJ, Civico Europa, EMMA, News Media Europe, Re-Imagine Europa, and sponsored by Equinor.
- Policy Forum on 25 June 2019: ‘VP Democracy’ for Sound Platforms & Independent Media: learn more on the article about this event and watch the highlights video
- Networking event on 4 June 2019: read the press release and check out the video
EP Elections 2019 | Electoral debate with French candidates in April 2019
Can the EU do more for a healthy media sector?
- 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 EU’s 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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, pitching session, roundtable, and policy debate.

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, developing skills and testing innovative approaches.
Partners' Events
We also 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.
