Over 226 new media innovations through the Vienna media initiative
Vienna (OTS) – Since 2019, the Vienna Media Initiative has supported 226 media projects and new media startups. The funding, initiated by the city and implemented by the Vienna Business Agency, supports innovation in the media industry, promotes quality journalism and strengthens media diversity in the federal capital.
“The Vienna Media Initiative achieves exactly what we set as our funding goal: new media is created in Vienna, existing companies innovate their products
“, said Economics and Media Councilor Peter Hanke. “A diverse, independent media landscape and high-quality journalism is even more important for the city and its residents in times of reports and fake news generated by artificial intelligence
“, so Hanke.
The projects submitted for the funding round that have just concluded show how diverse the ideas and projects of people working as journalists in Vienna are: The topics range from sport and outdoors to feminism, culture and international politics to more sustainability in Vienna.
New media projects bring new perspectives
The magazine “Voices of Europe”, for example, examines geopolitical debates from a European perspective and works in particular with authors from Central and Eastern Europe. “Voices of Europe” is a special project of the daily newspaper “Die Presse”.
A new “school blog” aims to introduce young people to journalism and strengthen their media skills. The project was developed together by teachers and students. In the “Falter Arena”, the Viennese weekly newspaper presents current discussions and research live, i.e. in front of an audience. And on the “Strong & Seen” podcast, only female athletes are in the spotlight.
Vienna media initiative attracts international attention
“Vienna-style funding,” as the German media scientist Christopher Buschow from the Hamburg Media School calls it, is receiving great international attention. The Vienna media initiative was recently presented in Berlin at a panel discussion organized by the German Association of Journalists Berlin (DJV Berlin – JVBB) and the Institute for Media and Communication Policy (IfM).
The Vienna Media Initiative funding program is divided into two areas. “Medistart” supports journalists, founders and small media companies in making journalistic concepts and innovative ideas market-ready. Up to 10,000 euros will be distributed for this.
In the “Media Project” area, media companies are supported with up to 100,000 euros to create new media offerings. Around a third of the previous funding commitments for “Media Project” went to newly founded media companies, the rest to existing media companies. A rotating, international jury of media experts decides on the awarding of around three million euros in funding per year.
In-depth support of funded projects
Funded projects are supported by the Vienna Media Initiative Lab in the starting phase of each new round. Workshops with experts help those receiving funding to better position their business models and strategies. Additional networking offers provide space for networking and exchanging experiences. The Vienna Media Initiative Lab was developed in 2022 based on the experiences of the past few years by the Vienna Business Agency together with fjum (forum journalism and media).
Further information can be found on the website Vienna media initiative.
Questions & Contact:
Roberta „Louis“ Kraft
Media spokesperson City Councilor Peter Hanke
roberta.kraft@wien.gv.at
+43 1 4000 81211
Uschi Kainz
Communications Vienna Business Agency
kainz@wirtschaftsagentur.at
+43 699 140 86 583