Limelight Foundation

🌍 Can 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 rebuild public interest journalism in the post-truth era? In an era of “fake news,” filter bubbles, and shrinking media freedom, how we tell stories has never mattered more. With fewer people trusting traditional media, independent outlets across Europe are 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄, 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 to connecting with audiences in meaningful ways—combining investigative rigour with digital storytelling to engage, inform, and empower. 📰 Civitates’ latest article highlights four pioneering media organisations using cutting-edge storytelling to engage new audiences, counter misinformation, and hold power to account: •    𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗼 (𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻) has created an interactive video game to humanise the complex path to EU citizenship, turning data into empathy and transforming abstract policies into relatable human experiences. •    𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗸𝘁𝟯𝟲 (𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆) navigates a restrictive media landscape, producing investigative documentaries and podcasts that expose government overreach while addressing political pressures. •    𝗣𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗼 (𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱) seeks to reach “news avoiders” through narrative podcast serials and in-depth long reads that provide thoughtful, fact-based perspectives amidst a highly polarised media environment. •    𝗣𝗼𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝘁𝗼 (𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮) takes audiences directly into their investigative work, from plastic-waste visualisations to immersive audio tours that reveal hidden municipal deals. These grantee partners embody the resilience and creativity needed to bring 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰. 📢 What role should innovative storytelling play in tackling today’s media challenges? Are interactive tools, podcasts, and data visualisations the future of journalism? Let’s hear your thoughts — whether you’re in media, communications, or simply care about fact-based reporting, your voice matters. 📖 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ekDGb_pP #InnovativeStorytelling #IndependentMedia #SocialImpact #Civitates #CivilSociety #Democracy #civitatesEU #disinformation #storytelling

Nog een week! | Investico zoekt vóór 31 oktober 3000 nieuwe Vrienden. Al 2400 mensen sloten zich aan. Elke extra euro steun betekent dat wij nóg meer belangrijke onderzoeken kunnen doen. https://buff.ly/40iOsgZ

🟢 Two new FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES are now open for applications 🟢   We’re pleased to launch two new funding opportunities under our Making Regulation Work Programme: AI Accountability Grants and AI Act Implementation Grants, ranging between €10,000 and €200,000.    For who? ✳️ AI Accountability Grants are for non-profit organisations and coalitions from different fields that want to promote social justice by establishing accountability over the use of AI systems in Europe – at either EU, national or local level. ✨ You do not have to be a technology expert to apply. ✨ 📌 Apply by January 6 2025.   ✴️ AI Act Implementation Grants are for non-profit organisations registered in Europe that want to promote social justice objectives in the implementation of the European AI Act. 📌 We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Apply by November 10 to have your proposal evaluated during the first round.   Read more and apply here:  🔗 https://lnkd.in/eQ_fpUfb Mark your calendars! Our team will be hosting two online 'Ask us anything' sessions for anyone interested to find out more. Please register below. 📅 Wednesday, 23 October 11-12h CET, you can register here: 🔗https://lnkd.in/eSKKxAE3 📅 Tuesday, 5 November 14-15h CET, you can register here: 🔗https://lnkd.in/evydSkie   Help us share these opportunities with people and organisations across different fields and movements who absolutely need to hear about this! 💫 Tag them in a comment below or repost! Let's establish accountability over the use and development of AI, so that all people can thrive in fair, inclusive and sustainable societies! 🌍   #grants #funding #fundingopportunity #AI #socialjustice #techjustice #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAct #techregulation #philanthropy #digitalrights #disabilityrights #racialjustice #techfunders #socialjusticefunders #humanrightsfunders #humanrights #nonprofits #civilsociety #democracy

VACANCY ALERT - We're hiring at Limelight Foundation! As a young organization preparing to scale up, we are in need of an Operations Manager with 5+ years of experience in a relevant role. Read more down below. You can apply until 30 October 2024!

Congratulations are in order! 🎊 Last week, two of the organizations we support have won awards for their impressive work: 🏆 Forbidden Stories won #TheEmmy for Outstanding Investigative Documentary for their project "Global Spyware Scandal: Exposing #Pegasus". Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eDQgf33n 🏆 Unbias The News was awarded the Impact Award 2024 by #IJ4EU for their Border Graves Investigation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eqxU6r_A 📰 And for those who read Dutch - Evelyn Austin, the director of Bits of Freedom, was interviewed by the de Volkskrant about how Big Tech threatens both our rule of law and journalism: Read here: https://lnkd.in/ejrNHXvP

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Hans Laroes as chair of the board. Hans will succeed John Caspers per September 1, 2024.   Hans Laroes is an experienced director with a strong track record in journalism. From 2002 to 2011, he was editor-in-chief of the NOS Journaal. From 2016 to 2018, he was interim editor-in-chief of the public broadcaster KRO-NCRV. Hans Laroes has held various relevant other positions, including at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Dutch Press Council, which he chaired from 2013-2015. Hans has been a member of the supervisory board of Investico since 2019.   John Caspers, co-founder of Limelight Foundation and outgoing chairman of the board: “In Hans we have found a very competent and dedicated chairman, whose background and personality will be of great importance to Limelight. Limelight has laid a solid foundation for achieving its goals in the past three years. We currently have 49 active partnerships spread across Europe. I am proud to hand over my responsibilities to Hans.”   Hans Laroes: “Limelight is more relevant than ever. Press freedom has been in decline for years, public trust in the media is under pressure and digitization often clashes with the core values of democracy. What John has accomplished with Limelight is extremely important and I am highly motivated to contribute to Limelight’s goals as chair of the board. I look forward to working with my fellow directors and Alinda Vermeer’s team.”   Alinda Vermeer, Executive Director: “I am very pleased with the appointment of Hans Laroes. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will benefit us greatly. I warmly welcome him to Limelight.”

For the latest edition of the Journalism Funders Forum's newsletter, our program manager Willem Lenders was interviewed to talk about responsible use of #AI in the newsroom and what role donors can play. “We need newsrooms that have the capacity to be critical of what they use.” Read the article via the link down below. Written by Robert Nemeth from the Media and Journalism Research Center. Sign up for the newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eNcERDKn

Are you a funder and do you worry about the negative effects AI might have on our society? Do you want to support work that ensures the public interest is at the center of the agenda on #AI? The European AI & Society Fund has launched its new Build & Breakthrough initiative. Join us and many other philanthropic organizations in supporting this work!

CALL FOR PROPOSALS To all who work in France and Ireland on the national enforcement of the #DSA and other related EU tech regulations. Civitates ' program on Tech and Democracy is launching their call for proposals. Deadline: 9 September 2024, 11pm CET Decision: November 2024 An information session will be held on July 9, 2024 from 2 PM CET:  https://lnkd.in/e6KQRCKD