Each summer, the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom welcomes journalists, media professionals, and media researchers from across Europe and beyond for a week of learning, sharing, and recharging. The setting? The European University Institute (EUI) hilltop campus in Fiesole, just outside Florence.
This residential summer school is a unique chance to take a step back from the daily news grind and dive into the bigger picture: media freedom, policy, innovation, and the future of journalism in a rapidly changing world.
The Summer School offers an intensive and engaging training opportunity for early and mid-career journalists and media professionals. Participants explore current trends shaping journalism, including the impact of technology, evolving content regulation, and innovative business models for the news industry. The programme provides an up-to-date overview of legal frameworks and policy developments, while fostering interactive learning and meaningful discussions. Through expert-led sessions and structured networking opportunities, participants expand their professional knowledge and build lasting connections with peers and speakers.
The Summer School is open to applicants from diverse backgrounds and countries, with selection based on the strength of the application and a commitment to promoting diversity. Since the Summer School is part of the EU-funded Media Pluralism Monitor project, scholarships were previously available only to candidates from EU countries. Thanks to the efforts of the CMPF team and the support of the European University Institute, we are proud to announce that the scholarship programme has recently been expanded globally, opening the opportunity to a more diverse group of participants.
Fully-funded scholarships in 2025
31
Editions since 2012
13
Global scholarships
5
Days of intensive training and networking
4
This year's focus is on 'Who is a journalist today, and what is journalism for in the age of AI, platforms, and influencers?'
The CMPF team also occasionally contributes to the organisation of additional training initiatives for journalists, media scholars, and civil society:
→ How to Measure Complex Phenomena in the Digital Society? Capacity Building on Research Methodologies (30–31 October 2024) – a specialised training programme designed for early and mid-career researchers, focusing on advanced methodologies to analyse key aspects of the digital society. The course explores how to assess risks to media pluralism, evaluate the impact of online disinformation, and understand the broader societal implications of digital transformation. It combines theoretical frameworks with practical, hands-on experience.
→ EU funding opportunities for journalism – a workshop developed and led by the CMPF project manager, offered free of charge to participants at the Voices Festival of Journalism and Media Literacy in Florence (2024) and Zagreb (2025). This practical module is also featured in the Summer School for Journalists and Media Practitioners.