Mediahuis — annual report — 2022 > IMPACT: Journalism that matters

In times of crisis and conflict, independent journalism is crucial. Mediahuis believes that, unconditionally. In addition to our own journalists reporting extensively on the war, not only here but in difficult conditions on the ground, Mediahuis spent much of the past year looking for an impactful way to ensure that Ukrainian journalists can continue to fulfil their social mission and report independently.

Via the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), a non-profit based in New York and a partner of Mediahuis in the Pluralis fund (see right), Mediahuis offered financial and logistical support to five independent Ukrainian media organisations: the national news site Liga.net (based in Kyiv), Melitopolske Vedomosti (Melitopol), Grivna (Kherson), the local newspaper Molodoy Bukovinetz (Chernivtsi) and the biggest Ukrainian newspaper Express (Lviv).

The financial and logistical support made it possible for these outlets to continue operating and reporting as much as possible in extremely difficult circumstances. It helped to remedy supply problems in the war zone, and allowed protective clothing, such as bulletproof vests and helmets, to be bought for journalists.

In May, Mediahuis donated 36 tonnes of paper, a raw material that proved to be a strategically important and scare commodity from the start of the conflict. Between June and December the MDIF organised an additional delivery of 177 tonnes of paper to the Association of Independent Press Publishers of Ukraine, which was able to buy it at a very favourable price thanks to Mediahuis, and distributed it to independent newspapers around Ukraine.

The ongoing bombing of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure left most cities, even far from the front line, without heating and electricity. In recent months, therefore, the MDIF has been fully committed to distributing charging stations or uninterruptible power source modules to withstand outages as much as possible.

The role of the media in any society is to provide accurate and objective information to the public. Ukraine’s journalists are doing all they can to continue playing their social role as best they can in impossible circumstances. Mediahuis is honoured to contribute to this effort.

Pluralis helps safeguard independent journalism

Pluralis brings together a group of European media companies, foundations and impact investors and is a joint initiative of the New York-based Media Development Investment Fund, the King Baudouin Foundation (Belgium), Tinius Trust (Norway) and Mediahuis. Pluralis’ investments are designed to protect independent news companies from takeovers that could compromise their editorial independence, ensuring that European citizens continue to have access to a plurality of news sources. Pluralis today holds a 34% stake in Petit Press, Slovakia’s second-largest publisher, and 40% in leading Polish media company Gremi Media, publisher of Rzeczpospolita, one of the most important newspapers in Poland.

First edition of Mediahuis Festival of Journalism

On 18 and 19 May 2022, 150 colleagues from Mediahuis’ Dutch and Belgian titles came together for the first edition of the Festival of Journalism. It was two days of new insights, knowledge sharing, workshops, debates and expected and unexpected encounters. Rasmus Nielsen, director of the Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford, kicked off the first edition with insights into the latest developments in the news media world.

Other topics covered included the appeal of crime journalism, approaches to regional investigative reporting, using data to write better stories and find the right audience, the recipe for success for podcasts and more. There were external experts on the various stages, but above all lots of Mediahuis colleagues who talked about their experiences.

The sequel to the Festival of Journalism will take place on 16 May 2023, this time with colleagues from Germany, Ireland and Luxembourg.