Introduction

Why support media & information integrity support

In an era marked by intensifying geopolitical competition, digital disruption, and democratic backsliding, access to independent, credible information has become both a democratic necessity and a security imperative.

Around the world, authoritarian actors are investing in state-aligned media systems, disinformation infrastructure, and information control strategies—both domestically and across borders.

Simultaneously, economic pressures, repression, and platform-driven revenue losses are undermining the viability and independence of public interest media globally.

In this context, the European Union, its Member States and other actors face a strategic challenge: to ensure that development, foreign policy, and democracy assistance efforts adequately respond to the fragility of the global information environment.

While the EU has made strong commitments to media freedom and pluralism in its Team Europe Democracy (TED) programming these ambitions are not yet fully reflected in operational frameworks, budget priorities, or coordination mechanisms across institutions.

Recognising this gap, the TED Network Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) has developed this practical toolkit in cooperation with the TED network.

The toolkit will provide concrete guidance to support media development, combat information disorder, and integrate information integrity into EU and Member State programming.

For more information on the evidence and arguments for supporting media and information integrity see:

The security case for supporting media and information integrity

The consultation to support the development of the principles and previous surveys of donors and GFMD members highlight long-held concerns that many donors still struggle to understand what media development is and why it is important.

While some contributors believe that understanding has improved in recent years – including a shift away from the instrumentalisation of media to achieve other development goals – many note that frequent staff turnover, the rarity of specialised staff, and a lack of dedicated strategies can complicate the prioritisation of journalism support and media assistance, particularly in the face of rapid changes in market dynamics, technological advances, and political uncertainties.

In addition to the historic challenges to media assistance as part of good governance and democracy programming, this could be further challenged by the pivot by the EU, EU member states and others to prioritise security as a cornerstone of policymaking.

This toolkit puts forward the case that a holistic approach to security policy must not be confined to military capability or border control alone—it must also encompass the integrity of information ecosystems.

Disinformation campaigns, often state-sponsored, have become a powerful tool for undermining democratic institutions, polarising societies, sometimes as part of hybrid warfare destabilising the EU, its neighbours and strategic partners around the world.

Protecting the information space at home and abroad is now as vital to European security as safeguarding physical borders.

To this end, the EU must expand its security framework to include robust support for independent journalism as a frontline defence against information warfare, both within and beyond its borders.

Independent journalism plays a critical role in countering disinformation and fostering public trust. Yet, many media outlets face financial precarity, political pressure, and technological disruption, leaving them vulnerable to co-option or collapse.

Without sustainable, independent journalism, the information space is increasingly dominated by opaque algorithms, state-backed propaganda, and profit-driven clickbait.

To reinforce the EU’s security pivot, this toolkit aims to help policymakers design funding mechanisms and programmes that support independent journalism as a bulwark against authoritarian influence, fostering stability and democratic resilience—both of which are in the EU’s long-term interests.

Strengthening media resilience is not only a matter of defending against external threats—it is essential for preserving internal cohesion and advancing the EU’s strategic influence abroad.

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