Programme
Conference for Sustainable Media & Capital Stacks of Journalism launch event
29–30 September 2026 · Budapest
Tuesday, 29 September
13:00
Doors open / registration / coffee
13:30–13:45
Welcome and opening15 MIN
Peter Erdelyi, Center for Sustainable Media
13:45–14:45
CEOs of four of Hungary's leading independent digital news organisations discuss the future of the market.
With: Gábor Kardos, CEO, 444 / Magyar Jeti · András Pusztay, CEO, Telex · Tamás Szauer, CEO, HVG · Zoltán Varga, Owner and CEO, Central Médiacsoport / 24.hu
Moderator: Éva Bognár, Media Forum Association
14:45–15:45
A conversation between organisations that finance independent media in Europe and beyond.
With: Marcin Gadzinski, Program Director for Europe, MDIF · Lot Carlier, Executive Director, V-Ventures · Samuel Sigere, Program Manager, Civitates · Bea Bodrogi, media lawyer and member of the new Hungarian Media Council
Moderator: Ágnes Urbán, Mérték Media Monitor
15:45–16:15
Coffee break30 MIN
16:15–16:45
Main findings from Capital Stacks of Journalism, based on the trajectories of 21 successful European digital-native media ventures.
Presenters: Peter Erdelyi & Milo Tesselaar, Center for Sustainable Media
16:45–18:15
An in-depth discussion bringing together all stakeholders in the room — founders and executives, investors and funders, policymakers, researchers and other experts — to explore what it would take to build and finance more sustainable independent media businesses in Europe.
18:15–19:30
Break / informal networking75 MIN
19:30
Dinner
Informal dinner for participants.
Wednesday, 30 September
09:00–11:00
A working breakfast focused on the policy and financing tools that could help crowd more private investment into Europe's independent information ecosystem.
