Apply for Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program

IPMAP has been designed to contribute to the overall goal of strengthening the capacity of media outlets and journalists in the Indo-Pacific region to develop their business strategies, enhance their ability to conduct independent journalism, and counter disinformation.

Objectives

• Specific objectives of the Program aim to achieve the following:
  • Independent media and journalists have increased understanding of prevalent mis and disinformation narratives. Capacity of professional, independent media organizations and journalists are strengthened to develop and implement media sustainability plans and improve business operations.
  • Participating journalists increase the quality and quantity of published information and news.
  • Media outlets have access to resources, content sharing agreements, and equipment to provide quality content.
  • Journalists and media outlets have the technical and investigative skills to conduct pre-bunking, fact-checking and de-bunking to address mis and disinformation.
  • Media and journalists apply skills and receive mentoring to produce investigative journalism and counter disinformation.

The Program will assist up to 30 Media Organizations in the target countries through

• Advice and mentoring to contribute to the diversification of revenues by adapting and introducing data-driven business strategies
• Access to an internship program – Internews will cover the costs of an intern for the organization for six months to help foster new talent. Grantee organizations will train and mentor a recent graduate or journalism student by providing on-the-job training and mentoring, skills training and resources.
• Access to content sharing agreements from leading regional news outlets that could include text, radio, video and social media.
• Provision of resources, tools and small assets/equipment up to USD $3,000 to strength digital security and mobile journalism
• High level capacity building training and mentoring for journalists on fact checking, pre-bunking and debunking of disinformation and OpenSource Intelligence (OSINT) investigations.
• Engagement opportunities to foster regional collaboration through networking events.

Funding Information

• Selected media organizations will receive a USD $20,000 grant for support. (Content sharing agreements and other resources will be provided separately from this USD $20,000.)
• The grant amount of USD $20,000 per grantee will be paid in three tranches across the project duration.
• Grant Duration:  Up to 18 months

Geographic Focus

• Independent Media Organizations from South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka Pakistan, Bhutan); Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Timor Leste) and the Pacific Islands (Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Tuvalu)

Criteria

• Selection will be based on the following criteria:
  • The applicant should be a legally established and registered media organization in one of the target countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, or the Pacific Islands.
  • Status of the legal entity: Independent media company or non-for-profit media.
  • Proven commitment to professional and ethical standards of journalism (e.g. through membership in press councils; adherence or compliance with other relevant recognized mechanisms, platforms, etc. established to promote professional and ethical standards in journalism).

For more information, visit Internews.