Audience-Engaged Journalism Grants

• Eligibility: Eastern European journalists with a story proposal
• Target Region: Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia
• Application Language: English

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is launching the first call for Audience-Engaged Journalism Grants as part of the third edition of the Media Innovation Europe (MIE) initiative, led by the International Press Institute. The programme offers grants, a four-day online training course, professional mentoring, and access to BIRN’s BE Engaged digital crowdsourcing tool to media outlets from ten Balkan and Visegrad countries. It supports investigative and in-depth stories produced through active community participation, enabling newsrooms to identify overlooked issues, amplify underrepresented voices, and build stronger relationships with their audiences.

Eligibility

• Legally registered media organisations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, and Slovakia may apply.
• Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to independent, high-quality public-interest journalism and propose an investigative or in-depth story that directly engages the community concerned.
• Applicants must be registered as legal entities on or before January 1, 2024.
• Proposals that involve underrepresented communities — including women, young people, national and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people and other marginalised or underreported groups — are particularly encouraged.

Requirements

• A story proposal explaining the issue being investigated, why the topic is important, the affected community involved, how citizens will contribute to the reporting process, and the expected public impact of the story.
• A completed financial proposal using the budget template provided.
• Relevant financial and registration documents and certificates as specified in the full Call for Applications.
• Individual grants of up to EUR 4,700 are available for stories addressing national, regional, or local issues; cross-border grants of up to EUR 9,400 are available for at least two media organisations working together on a topic relevant to audiences across Balkan and Visegrad countries.
  Under this call, BIRN will award up to four individual grants and up to two cross-border grants; selected media outlets are expected to begin implementation on December 1, 2026, with projects lasting up to eight months and all activities completed by July 31, 2027.

How to Apply

Access and complete the online application form through the provided link. All required supporting documents must be submitted together with the application by October 12, 2026, at midnight CET. An online information session in English will be held on September 7, 2026, at 14:00 CET. Questions may be submitted to the BE Tool Coordinator by October 5, 2026.
Apply here.
For more information, please visit this page.