Media Forward Fund Jury Strengthens Investigative and Cultural Journalism

Berlin / Wien / Zürich – 17. Juni 2026: From a total of 82 applications from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the Media Forward Fund jury has selected two public-interest media organizations for funding. With this decision, the independent expert jury is strengthening both investigative journalism and the further development of innovative audio offerings in cultural journalism. Funding will go to the Swiss investigative collective WAV from Zurich and the Hamburg-based radio station ByteFM.

Strengthening Investigative Journalism and Community Engagement

The Association for Investigative Research (Verein für kritische Recherche) in Zollikofen will receive €450,000 in funding to help the Swiss investigative collective WAV further develop its supporter journeys and strengthen the visibility and positioning of its brand. Accompanied by a kick-off campaign, WAV will support three investigative projects per year through dedicated newsletters, social media videos, advertising and crowdfunding campaigns, as well as events organized together with publishing partners. By engaging its supporter community more systematically, WAV aims to triple the number of recurring donors.

Although WAV, as an investigative collective, does not operate its own publishing platform, “it has quickly earned a strong reputation thanks to groundbreaking investigations and has been able to establish multiple revenue streams,” the jury explained in its decision. “We see these socially highly relevant investigations as a promising foundation for public-interest growth on multiple levels. We commend WAV’s ambition to establish itself as an independent Swiss investigative newsroom by building a strong brand of its own.”

In addition, the nonprofit association Radiokultur & Medienkompetenz e.V., which is closely affiliated with the Hamburg-based radio station ByteFM, will receive €100,000 in financial support over a one-year period. “As an independent music and culture radio station, ByteFM has built a large audience across the DACH region, including more than 11,000 paying supporting members,” the jury noted. “In particular, we see great potential in ByteFM’s close relationship with its audience and the strong identification listeners have with the brand. At a time when many cultural journalism outlets are under pressure, ByteFM continues to grow steadily.” 

The aim is to secure and expand ByteFM’s member-supported growth model over the long term while creating new opportunities to reach and engage broader audiences.

Next Calls for Applications Open in September 2026

The independent jury of experts from across the DACH region includes Maria Exner (DE), Yves Daccord (CH), Lucy Küng (CH), Eva Schulz (DE), and Patrick Swanson (AT).

Based on transparent criteria, the jury decides twice a year which public-interest media organizations will receive financial support through Media Forward Fund’s General Funding Line. Since the Fund’s launch eighteen months ago, the jury has awarded approximately €4 million to thirteen media organizations across the DACH region.

On September 7, 2026, the Fund will launch three calls for applications simultaneously: For the first time, Growth Grants in the Funding Line for Science and Data Journalism, Strategy Grants in the General Funding Line (by invitation), and Launch Grants in the Regional Funding Line for French-speaking Switzerland.

All information is available at mediaforwardfund.org/en/apply

About Media Forward Fund

Media Forward Fund is a philanthropic collaboration that supports media diversity in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The goal: Contributing to more quality journalism with viable business models that publish strong, trustworthy content and are sustainably financed in the long term.

The non-profit Fund was established in July 2024 on the initiative of Schöpflin Foundation, Mercator Foundation Switzerland, Volkart Foundation, Rudolf Augstein Foundation, ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS, Allianz Foundation, Stiftung für Medienvielfalt, ERSTE Foundation, DATUM STIFTUNG für Journalismus und Demokratie, the MacArthur Foundation (USA), as well as the impact investor Karma Capital Group, and Publix. 

Since then, Deutsche Postcode Lottery, Joachim Herz Foundation, Klaus Tschira Foundation, Volkswagen Foundation, Madsack Foundation, Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, FERS Foundation, Fondation Aventinus, Fondation Leenaards, the City of Geneva, Press Forward (USA) and GLS Treuhand have joined as funding partners. The Upskilling Program is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Knight Foundation (USA), and the Gottlieb and Hans Vogt Foundation. To date, Media Forward Fund has been endowed with 16 million euros.

Press Contact
Lisa Sympher
Email: lisa@mediaforwardfund.org