The European Commission has earmarked 1.8 million euros ($2 million) of funding to help establish a “European newsroom” bringing together 16 news agencies.
European Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, said this at an event in Brussels on Monday.
According to the commission, it will be the first-ever pan-European newsroom space.
“It will allow journalists to report jointly on EU affairs and promote, let’s say, a spirit of collaboration,’’ Breton said.
The commissioner said the funding will be used, among other things, to finance further newsroom training and a new multilingual website with selected texts on EU topics from participating news agencies.
The project is coordinated by dpa and other participating agencies include France’s AFP, Italy’s ANSA, Belgium’s Belga, Austria’s APA, the Spanish agencies EFE and Europa Press.
Agencies from non-EU countries, such as Albanian ATA or Serbian Tanjug, are also to take part.
Peter Kropsch, Chairman of the dpa management board, said when 16 news agencies from 15 countries, each with their own national perspective on Europe, use a common newsroom in Brussels, everyone benefits from the diversity of perspectives.
“The networking drives up journalistic quality and initiative will also include training, events and newsroom infrastructures like technology and news feeds.
“With the ‘European Newsroom’ concept, it is particularly important to us that all partners are committed to free, independent journalism,’’ Kropsch said in a written statement.
The project will start in January, with the newsroom to become operational around the middle of next year.
