Here’s What You Get with Media Blend

• Online sessions for shortlisted applicants to develop and refine their project ideas ahead of the hackathon;
• Hybrid-format simulations with tailored feedback to enhance shortlisted applicants’ project management skills;
• Travel Grants of up to €3,000 for 10 selected teams to cover participants’ travel expenses;
• A comfortable workspace in Bratislava for collaboration with teammates, fostering the development of the team’s aspirational project;
• Pitch coaching and dedicated mentorship for the participants during the hackathon;
• Kick-off Grants: €5,000 each for 3 winning teams to launch their projects following the hackathon;
• A free pass to the IPI World Congress and Media Innovation Festival 2025 in Vienna (October 23–25), connecting participants with Europe’s most innovative media professionals.

I’m interested! So, what is it all about?

Media Blend: StoryHack is a four-day in-person event in Bratislava, gathering media professionals and innovators from across Europe to develop innovative approaches to storytelling in journalism. The chosen hackathon format guarantees 72 hours of creative problem-solving, allowing the participants to develop their project ideas through collaboration with experts and media professionals. This process leads up to the competition: a pitching session where ideas are presented and assessed.

As a part of the selection process before the event, we will hold 3 ideation sessions. Ideation is a 2-hour online meeting with potential participants and experienced industry professionals to help the teams shape their ideas and take them to the next level.

Whether candidates are applying as individuals with a vision or as part of a team, Media Blend offers the opportunity to network, learn, and collaborate while enhancing the business models of participants’ projects.

Who is it for? Am I eligible?

Media Blend Hackathon brings together media experts and managers, freelancers, multimedia content makers and journalists from newsrooms around Europe to delve into different storytelling formats. If fitting this description, candidates are welcome to apply, either individually or as part of a team!

Teams / individual participants are welcome to apply if they have:

• An idea of an innovative storytelling project they aim to develop and pitch; 
• Availability for a 2-hour online ideation session, a key part of our selection process;
• Availability to travel to Bratislava for 19–22 October 2025 (with travel costs covered in advance).

Geographical eligibility

Applicants and their organizations must be based in one of the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine.

What should my team look like?

• Your team consists of 2-4 people having the skills to implement a media project;
• Your team has to include at least one company decision-maker (e.g., editor-in-chief, product lead, etc.); 
• Ideally, your team includes members representing two different organizations and countries. If this isn’t the case, we still encourage the teams to apply!

Ready to Join?

1. Apply now via our online form: https://forms.gle/utD23kPJ7UmvJfz99. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so don’t wait until the deadline!
2. If shortlisted, your team will be invited to an ideation session between 25 August and 5 September. It is part of the selection process, but also an opportunity for the applicants to get support refining their project ideas;
3. Following these sessions, our selection committee will announce the 10 selected teams by 15 September 2025.