The MINDS Conference session on the Trusted European Media Data Space brought together TEMS partners from three major European news agencies—APA, DPA, and AFP—to present the ambitious initiative co-founded by the EU and reflect on the significance of the project and its potential to drive a new era in digital media collaboration.

The discussion began with an introduction by APA, that laid out the origins and objectives of the Trusted European Media Data Space: the project, launched in October last year, is part of a broader initiative by the European Commission to develop data spaces across various sectors. This media-specific effort aims to create a secure and decentralized infrastructure that enables media companies to share and access data, such as content, metadata, and usage information, while complying with stringent data protection regulations.

APA emphasized the project’s decentralized approach, where partners retain control over their data instead of creating a central repository. Then, the presentation described the collaboration among 32 participants and six associate partners from 12 European countries, illustrating the breadth and ambition of the effort.

As the session progressed, AFP delved into the project’s eight Trials designed to address specific industry challenges, highlighting the three trials led by the news agencies. First was the B2B exchange platform for fact-checking and news content, aimed at raising the visibility of fact checks and general news content, with contributions from AFP, APA, DPA, and other partners. The second trial involved a content marketplace prototype spearheaded by APA to enhance syndication opportunities and drive revenue growth. Lastly, DPA and Highberg discussed their digital revenue initiative, which aims to utilize usage data to uncover trends and optimize content distribution on a pan-European level. The session concluded with a discussion on the project’s benefits, such as boosting innovation, protecting data in the AI age, and expanding revenue opportunities across both media and non-media sectors. As the speakers wrapped up, there was a palpable sense of the challenges and promise ahead, underscoring the transformative potential of the Trusted European Media Data Space.