Call for Applications: Central Europe Media Resilience Grants Programme

The Central Europe Media Resilience Grants Programme aims to support and empower local actors in independent media and the civic sector in Central Europe to safeguard democratic institutions and strengthen networks of active citizens defending democratic values.

Scope

• Grants can be used to, for example, support ongoing activities, generate revenue streams, expand audiences, or experiment with innovative tools and approaches to reporting and managing media organizations.
• In addition to the financial support, media outlets receiving the grants will have the opportunity to attend knowledge-sharing and networking events that connect them with industry experts and peers, keeping them up-to-date with media industry trends, while facilitating partnerships and business opportunities.
• Finally, the grantees will have access to tailored consultancy support from leading media experts in the Central Europe region and beyond. This support will be available on-demand, offering media outlets personalized advice and guidance on industry-specific challenges and opportunities, from content creation and distribution to audience engagement, monetization strategies, and general management issues.

Funding Information

• The budget may not be less than 25.000 EUR and may not exceed 120.000 EUR.

Benefits

• On-demand, tailored expert support
• Opportunities for knowledge sharing and networking through conferences, workshops, and trainings
• Support to journalists, media and civic organizations under threat
• Support to policy reform initiatives

Duration

• The duration of the project must be between 12 and 24 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Registration and operations requirement
  • The program aims to support media outlets that have been in operation for more than 12 months and are located in the countries targeted by the program.
    • Formal registration: This grant Program is open to legal entities (for-profit or non-profit) with a registered seat in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.
    • Date of registration: The media outlets must be legal entities officially incorporated before December 1, 2022.
    • Ongoing operations: Media outlets should have made journalistic content available to the general public before December 1, 2022.
• Type of media outlets that can apply
  • The program aims to support small to medium-sized media outlets that have strong digital presence at national or regional level, and meet the following criteria:
    • Digital first: Applicants should primarily operate as a digital-first media organization.
    • Full-time staff: Applicants must have at least 3 full-time staff members.
    • Coverage: Media outlets should be aimed at national or regional audiences in the country where they have a registered seat.
    • Revenues: Applicants must have an annual turnover of at least 100.000 EUR.
    • Editorial orientation: Only independent media outlets that focus on news, social, political, economic and cultural issues, and aim to serve broader public interest by providing impartial information and analysis are eligible to apply.
• Independence criteria
  • The program aims to support media organizations that demonstrate financial and editorial independence from government, political, and business interests, thus meeting the following criteria:
    • Financial independence: Media outlets should not depend on income from government, government-funded or government-affiliated entities, public institutions, or state-owned companies. They should also not depend on the income from a single commercial source or connected business.
    • Ownership structure: Political parties, government institutions, public institutions, public companies, or other organizations that are in any form controlled or funded by the government cannot have a direct or indirect (through third parties) ownership interest or decision-making influence over the applicant.

For more information, visit Prague Civil Society Center.