Assessing the Effectiveness of EMIF in Strengthening the European Information Ecosystem

Established in 2021 through a partnership between the European University Institute and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF) was created to reinforce the capacity of the European information ecosystem to identify, prevent, and counter disinformation.The Fund supports research, fact-checking, and media literacy activities by awarding grants to European organisations engaged in combating misinformation.

Launched with an initial contribution of €25 million from the Google News Initiative for a five-year funding cycle, EMIF represents an innovative response to the growing circulation of false content online - a phenomenon that threatens public debate and the quality of information. Its establishment addresses the need to provide stable and structured support to actors involved in independent research, fact-checking, and media literacy, helping citizens and professionals navigate an increasingly complex information environment.

More details

Lattanzio KIBS conducts the EMIF evaluation using a methodology designed to assess how the Fund’s interventions generate tangible effects, examining both results and changes produced within the organisations involved. The work focuses on analysing the portfolio of funded projects, the Fund’s grant-management model, and its overall impact on the European digital information ecosystem.

The evaluation is carried out through an initial phase of stakeholder meetings and interviews, followed by extensive data collection that includes field missions in four European countries, in-person and remote interviews, focus groups, an online survey, and an in-depth analysis of all funded projects. The final phase involves consolidating evidence and drafting the final evaluation report.

Project Impact

The evaluation enables the European University Institute to gain a clear understanding of the Fund’s strategic relevance, the robustness of its theory of change, the effectiveness of its grant-making processes, and the value generated by the supported projects. In this context, Lattanzio KIBS contributes to strengthening EMIF’s transparency and accountability, improving the quality and consistency of future operational decisions, and providing a solid knowledge base to inform European strategies to counter disinformation.

Ultimately, the project enhances the visibility and role of the organisations involved, highlighting the contribution that research, fact-checking, and media literacy bring to the quality of online information and to democratic resilience.