Applications open for Media Sub-Grant – Ukraine

The Research Institute plans to provide a sub-grant to mass media that work or plan to work in the field of combating disinformation to create media products for various communication channels and audiences (for example, radio programs, online articles, online news sources, television, messengers, cooperation with regional media, influencers, etc.), which will be distributed throughout the territory of Ukraine or in certain regions in order to better inform about events in Ukraine and overcome the consequences of disinformation.

The purpose of such activities is to reduce the vulnerability of Ukrainians to Russian disinformation and propaganda narratives.

The goal of the project is to increase the capacity and audience reach of independent media organizations in these countries to more effectively counter disinformation with fact-based information.

Program Goals and Objectives

• To address the overarching goal of increasing the capacity and audience reach of independent media organizations from Ukraine to more effectively counter disinformation with fact-based information, the recipients of the awards would be expected to develop and submit proposals outlining project ideas, including clear objectives and expected results that are aimed at increasing the production of high quality, engaging, trustworthy, relevant and factual content on the war in Ukraine and other major developments, mitigating the harmful effects of disinformation.
• Applicants will be required to demonstrate their ability to deliver proposed activities, meet award compliance requirements, and manage funds effectively.

Funding Information

• NDI will offer interested and qualified media organizations funding at award amounts ranging from $50,000 – $250,000.

Benefits

• Selected subaward recipients will also receive a tailored program of technical assistance throughout the duration of the awards focused on strengthening their editorial, production and management capacity, as well as bolstering the financial viability of the subaward recipients. This bespoke program of capacity strengthening will be provided by NDI and its partners based on needs assessments of subgrantees.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Institute encourages a diverse spectrum of applications from traditional media outlets, social media start-ups, and data journalism outlets. The Institute would seek gender diversity and applications from outlets representing the voices of marginalized groups.
• To be eligible for SIMO awards, media organizations must meet the following criteria:
  • Either be based or displaced from Ukraine with a demonstrated track record of reaching audiences and willingness to dedicate staff and resources to building internal capacities to more effectively promote information integrity.
  • Seeking funding for programming to increase information integrity or build resilience to disinformation.
  • Be a Ukraine-based non-governmental organization or a company with a demonstrated track record to reach audiences and willingness to dedicate staff and resources to building capacities on countering disinformation.
    • If applying as a for-profit entity, the applicant may not realize a profit as a result of this sub agreement.
  • Organizations must be able and open to receive capacity building support provided by NDI.
  • Have the capacity to manage awards of this scale.
  • Not affiliated with any government, or government-organized media effort.
• Priority will be given to organizations that:
  • Have demonstrated ‘reach,’ which is defined as the ability to reach viewers/listeners within their target audience.
  • Propose inclusion of factual information on the full scale war or other relevant major developments in the content they propose to create and disseminate.
  • Propose diverse content dissemination strategies, including utilizing social media, bloggers and influencers.
  • Propose data-driven strategies for reaching target audiences, including those that are particularly susceptible to information manipulation.

For more information, visit NDI.