A call to build independence and resilience
A European partnership of four civil society and journalism organisations has published a manifesto on sustaining independent journalism against an onslaught of disinformation, political manipulation, social media dominance and legal and other threats.
This is a call to action for the producers and consumers of news and information to join forces in support of journalism as an essential pillar of democracy.
The Manifesto for Sustainable Journalism is the culmination of two years of discussion and experimentation within the framework of the European S-Info (Sustainable Information) project, which was funded by the European Commission’s Creative Europe program.
Over the last two years, journalists, activists, and academics from Italy, Belgium, Romania and Malta have engaged in debates and workshops on key issues such as the propagation of false narratives and the polarization of public discourse on the environment, social justice, and the fight against corruption.
S-Info also ran training sessions aimed at strengthening professional journalism skills, explored the creation of safer spaces for journalists, ran campaigns in each country on the importance of independent journalism to democracy, and experimented with journalist-activist collaboration on investigative stories.
Sustainable journalism, as defined in the manifesto, aims at having journalistic practice conform to essential values like social justice, transparency and pluralism while ensuring the safety, well-being and recognition of those who produce the information.
The manifesto is structured around three major axes:
- Challenges: Media polarization, the illusion of neutrality, marginalisation of voices, economic and political pressures, and the precarity and harassment of journalists.
- Conditions for growth: Gender equality, mental health, digital security, inclusive spaces, and new forms of work organization.
- Systemic levers: Alliances between journalism and activism, sustainable funding, education in media and critical thinking, and transnational cooperation.
The manifesto is a tool for collective mobilization, an open commitment by all who believe that without independent journalism, there can be no vibrant democracy.
We warmly invite journalists, media organizations, academics, activists, civil society and grassroots groups to take a stand and sign the Manifesto for Sustainable Journalism. This will signal your commitment to a free and rigorous form of journalism that adheres to the values of truth and accountability, advocates for social justice and human rights, and champions environmental protection and the fight against corruption.
By signing the manifesto here, you join a European movement that rejects silence in the face of false narratives and authoritarian abuse. Together, we stand united in the belief that journalism must evolve to become more robust and boldly committed to truth. A new era of journalism is not just possible; it is essential for the future of our democracies.
INVITATION
Journalists, activists, educators, academics, and representatives of media, civil society or educational organisations are invited to a short conference to discuss the manifesto and its implications.
The conference will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, between 10am and 11.30am, at Valletta Hall, Volunteer Centre, 181, Triq Melita, Valletta.
Kindly click here to tell us whether you or a representative of your organisation plan to attend.
Learn More: www.sinfo-project.eu
The full Manifesto is available online here: https://sinfo-project.eu/manifeste/
S-Info press contact: communication@nullsinfo-project.eu