Reaching journalism sustainability through understanding content data (Content Analysis and Research Lab)

2026-07-22

In today's media landscape, trust in conventional media sources wanes, audience engagement declines, and economic uncertainty prevails, leading to information overload and a shift to social media platforms for news consumption. Yet, there's optimism in the potential of a data-driven approach to journalism. Six European partners unite under CARL (Content Analysis and Research Lab) to innovate journalism through data. The CARL initiative aims to support the development of journalists and media professionals, contributing to the creation of a more sustainable media ecosystem throughout Europe. It focuses on educating media professionals on data analysis, the utilization of innovative data tools, fostering data-oriented collaboration and knowledge-sharing among them. By doing so, CARL helps publishers become more economically effective to sustain the media industry in the future. With over 40 active team members, CARL aims to establish a community of 120+ journalists skilled in data-driven approach to content, who will have access to over 1000 journalists among partner companies for training and further scaling of this methodology. Additionally, CARL is dedicated to creating a comprehensive set of materials and tools on data in the media to further support its initiatives. Through such a scalable approach, CARL will be able to further disseminate the data-driven approach to content creation across Spain, France, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, and beyond, reaching approximately 10,000 journalists and driving positive change and innovation in the media industry. In summary, CARL aims to enhance the credibility and relevance of European journalism by empowering creators to leverage data effectively, enabling them to create better content and reach their audiences more efficiently. It helps journalists navigate the evolving media landscape confidently, ensuring the industry's continued relevance for both business and democratic society.

Czech Republic

2025-10-01