Reliable information

Investigative journalism with impact

Adessium supports investigative journalism, boosts press freedom and works to develop independent sources of income for journalists in Europe. This way, we ensure that high-quality information still has impact in a digital era and reaches a wide audience.

Facts & figures

166 lawsuits (SLAPPs) in EU against journalists in 2023
285 reports of intimidation against journalists in EU (2023, EFJ-IFJ)
86 reports in EU of online threats against journalists (2023, MFRR)

How we see this theme

Independent and reliable journalism is essential for a well-informed society and a healthy democratic debate. Despite this, investigative journalism is under pressure. Digitalization and the business models of social media and upcoming AI businesses make it more difficult to reach a wide audience and earn an independent income. That’s why we support international collaborations that tell a wider range of stories – on topics that affect people’s daily lives. Local media play a key role in this.

We also promote innovative distribution methods and experiment with new business models. Independent journalists are at risk because of the work they do, so we also support organizations that protect them. We work closely with other European funds, including within the collaborative project Civitates and the Journalism Funders Forum.

How we go about this

Support for investigative journalism in Europe. We help journalists conducting international investigations by providing funding and strategic advice. Our primary focus is on journalism stories that relate to the daily lives of a wide audience.
Collaboration with other funds. We work together with other funds in the Netherlands and Europe to provide broad support for journalism.
Future-proofing. We seek out innovative ways to make investigative journalism in Europe more financially stable. In doing so, we experiment with different collaborative models, to put journalists in a stronger position. We want to see them getting fair pay and proper protection.
Protecting journalists. We support organizations that protect journalists from legal pressure and threats.
Expanding reach. We support collaborations that address different audiences in a more deliberate and targeted way.

Stories

Tens of thousands of civilian casualties: the faces behind the statistics

Published in theme

Independent information

Read the story
“The algorithms suppress thorough journalism”

Published in theme

Informed Society

Read the story
“I had never encountered so much resistance before”

Published in theme

Independent information

Read the story
“You can silence the journalist, but not the story”

Published in theme

Independent information

Read the story

Adessium updates

Twenty years of Adessium: the journey

Published on: 15 June 2026
Annual Report 2025

Published on: 19 May 2026
Civil society organizations under pressure in the EU

Published on: 6 May 2026

Organizations that we support

Civitates – The European Democracy Fund

Civitates supports organizations that are working to address growing political polarization in Europe, the shrinking space for civil society, the decline of independent media, and the rise of online disinformation.
Investico

Investico strengthens the democratic rule of law by feeding the public debate. Not with inflated scandals, but through news and investigative stories that clarify how decisions are made, where implementation may go awry, and how oversight functions in social issues that are important for the Netherlands.
Investigate Europe

As cross-border team of reporters, editors and producers, Investigate Europe delivers in-depth investigative journalism from a changing Europe.