At the ARIJ 18th Annual Forum, Report for the World convened a roundtable introducing Report for the Mediterranean (RFM), a new cross‑border initiative designed to strengthen independent journalism across the wider Mediterranean region. The program will support around 45 roles (reporters, editors, and media‑innovation specialists) across Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Spain, Italy, and Greece over the next three to five years, with Beirut and Amman as operational hubs.

RFM brings together three core tracks: developing individual journalists’ investigative and narrative skills, supporting independent newsrooms to grow their impact and revenue models, and laying the groundwork for shared regional infrastructure that can be locally run within five to seven years.

The initiative responds to the region’s intertwined crises – conflict, democratic backsliding, migration, and climate stress – by fostering joint reporting that reflects these cross‑border realities. Unlike traditional grant schemes, RFM is built on equitable partnerships between Levantine and Southern European newsrooms, ensuring editorial agendas are locally led and collaboratively executed.

A pilot fund launching later this year will support four to five collaborative investigations linking partners across the sea. Each project will explore themes such as migration and accountability, labour and inequality, or democracy and rights in a securitised region.

Participants underscored the need for sustained peer collaboration, shared learning, and practical support around editing, safety, and mental well‑being, thus recognising that enduring cooperation, not one‑off projects, will be key to strengthening Mediterranean journalism.