This SIG seminar on Enterprise Foundations of the European Law Institute focused on foundation ownership in the media sector and its role in protecting independent journalism in an increasingly challenging environment.

The seminar opened with welcome remarks by Professor Steen Thomsen, Copenhagen Business School, who introduced the theme of media foundations and set the stage for the discussion.

The main presentation was delivered by Lars Munch, Chair of the Politiken Foundation and Vice Chair of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Drawing on the Danish Politiken Foundation as a prominent example, he provided insights into how foundation ownership can support editorial freedom, journalistic integrity, and long-term sustainability. The presentation also addressed the practical challenges of balancing commercial realities and AI with the responsibility to maintain public trust in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

The presentation was followed by an engaging Q&A session, where participants discussed governance practices in media foundations and the broader implications of foundation ownership for safeguarding independent news media.

The seminar concluded with a discussion on future SIG activities and member engagement, led by Steen Thomsen.

The event was held online and facilitated an active exchange among participants on the role of enterprise foundations in the media sector.