SIG on Enterprise Foundations: Media Foundations

Time: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Registration ends Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Special Interest Group (SIG) on Enterprise Foundations of the European Law Institute

Media Foundations - How foundation ownership can protect the integrity of news media – and why it matters now

Zoom | Wednesday 13 May, 15.30–17.00

A number of important newspapers and media groups around the world are owned by foundations, including Schibsted, Frankfurter Allgemeine, JP/Politiken, Bertelsmann, Amedia, The Guardian, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, among others. It is not difficult to see how this ownership structure can help protect the independence and integrity of the news media, which are under threat from authoritarian politicians and powerful social media giants. But how does it work in practice? What are the special challenges and governance practices in media foundations? We explore these questions through a prominent Danish example.

Program

15.30 Welcome and introduction
Today’s theme: Media Foundations
Steen Thomsen, Professor, Copenhagen Business School.

15.40 The Politiken Foundation and the governance of independent media
Lars Munch, Chair of Politiken Foundation and Vice Chair of Novo Nordisk Fonden.

The Danish Politiken Foundation is a prominent media foundation. In his talk, Lars Munch will discuss how foundation ownership supports editorial freedom, journalistic integrity, and long-term sustainability, while balancing commercial realities and public trust in a rapidly changing media landscape.

16.10 Q&A with Lars Munch

16.40 Future SIG activities and member dialogue
Steen Thomsen, Anne Sanders and Mark Ørberg.

17.00 End

ELI in the World’ celebrations marking the 15 anniversary of the Institute