Cultivating Local Independent Media in the Balkans (CLIMB)

• Eligibility Criteria:
  Locally registered media outlets, media literacy organizations, and individual content producers.
• Type of funding: Programmatic
• Target countries: Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia
• Application language: English

Internews is seeking applications for the Cultivating Local Independent Media in the Balkans (CLIMB) project to support the development of innovative products and approaches to increase media literacy.

The Cultivating Local Independent Media in the Balkans programme aims to improve access to useful and objective information in the Balkans by supporting local independent media outlets and enhancing media literacy in the region through mutually reinforcing experimental activities that will address both the supply of and demand for high-quality information about issues of public importance.

Internews will achieve this goal by providing long-term comprehensive support to selected independent media partners through the following:

• Data analytics services, technical assistance and content production grants;
• Support for the implementation of experimental media literacy projects and their amplification through collaboration with independent media outlets; and
• Regional gatherings that foster increased cooperation and knowledge exchange between the media and media literacy communities in the Western Balkans.

The opportunity will stimulate the production of innovative products and approaches for reaching diverse audiences with targeted content designed to increase media literacy. New experimental formats could include educational online games, interactive stories, satire, quizzes, or content tailored to social media platforms (e.g., memes, TikTok videos), specifically targeting demographics who are vulnerable to disinformation and misinformation.

Content should find novel approaches and creative formats to address aspects of media literacy such as critically analyzing sources, identifying manipulative tactics or understanding the various social, political or commercial implications of mass communication. Internews will prioritize funding for initiatives that target marginalized and vulnerable communities.

See here to learn more and apply.

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