Capacitating Investigative Journalism in Botswana

• Eligibility Criteria: The following organisations are eligible to apply:
  – U.S.–based and non-U.S. based not-for-profit organisations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organisations;
  – U.S.–based and non-U.S. based public and private educational institutions;
  – Individuals;
  – U.S. – based and non-U.S. based Public International organisations;
  – U.S. based and non U.S. based for profit organisations.
• Type of Funding: Programmatic
• Target Region: Botswana
• Application Language: English

The U.S. Embassy in Botswana announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Capacitating Investigative Journalism in Botswana.

U.S. Embassy Gaborone of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organisations to submit proposals to carry out a program to train investigative journalists in Botswana, capacitate training cohort participants in developing and writing/producing, and publishing well-researched investigative news stories that serve the public interest, and develop newsroom financial and management capacity that supports a robust, ethical, and sustainable independent news media environment in Botswana.

Program Objectives

The news media plays a vital role in any healthy democratic society, informing the public about key issues, enriching civil discourse in, and serving as a watchdog against corruption and other abuses. The objective of this funding opportunity is to capacitate Botswana’s journalists and news media organisations to further these core functions and directly leverage that capacity into practice.

The proposed project includes the following activities:

• Capacitate training to established Botswana-based journalists and newsroom editors on investigative reporting techniques and best practices to include data journalism and research, developing and pitching stories, ethics, legal considerations, and case studies of successful public interest investigative reporting projects in Africa and globally.
• Support outstanding training program participants with mentorship and resources to develop, report, pitch, write, and publish investigative stories that serve the public interest and comport with the media’s traditional watchdog role.
• Facilitate training workshops for editors and senior news media business managers on newsroom management and business-side industry best practices.
• Produce a report at the conclusion of the grant outlining the work done to fulfill these objectives and the impact of stories or organisational improvements associated with program activities.

Target Audiences

• Established journalists
• Senior and mid-level newsroom managers and editors
• News organisation business managers
• Local, regional, and international trainers and subject-matter experts
• Relevant civil society institutions

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $100,000
• Award amounts: $100,000
• Length of performance period: 12 months
• Number of awards anticipated: 1 award

See here to learn more and apply.

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