U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Embassy Skopje Grant for Youth Media Professionalism and Anti-Disinformation Training

The U.S. Embassy Skopje’s Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for non-profit/non-governmental organizations to submit media program proposals that strengthen media by increasing journalistic professionalism and diminishing the negative impact of disinformation. The media training program should be tailored for young journalists from The Republic of North Macedonia. 

Demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing media training programs is required. A broad pool of media contacts and established relationships with potential media trainers/coaches will be considered favorably. 

Training sessions should be in-person, with virtual or in-person speakers from North Macedonia, the region and the United States who are experts on the given topic of the session. Possible speakers include, but are not limited to, alumni of U.S. government-sponsored media programs in North Macedonia.

The grantee is expected to plan and implement a capstone element at the end of the program, that can include but is not limited to, a visit to U.S. newsroom(s) for most successful program participant(s), depending on availability of funding.

The program timeline will be developed in coordination with the U.S. Embassy Skopje.

 Proposals must demonstrate a commitment towards the support and inclusion of marginalized communities (including disability status, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, whether they live in a rural or urban setting, etc.). 

Proposals from U.S. institutions should identify potential local sub-grantees.

Priority Region: North Macedonia

Program Objectives:

Potential applicants should propose detailed specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) project objectives for their proposed programs.  Potential applicants should develop outcome-based objectives that incorporate measurable outcome indicators and propose methods to measure them.

Within the estimated budget, proposals should seek to meet the following goals:

·        Increase the availability of innovative, modern, independent news content

·        Promote professional journalism standards, particularly fact-based and fact-checked reporting

·        Introduce participants to innovative data-driven journalism that spotlights underreported issues

·        Build skills to identify and prevent distribution of disinformation by analyzing challenges and opportunities created by new media

·        Utilize case studies and hands-on experiences with journalists to encourage critical analysis and train them to become fluent storytellers

·        Educate participants to adapt to the current media environment by exposing them to digital tools and digital security.

Participants and Audiences:

Program participants should include young journalists, students of journalism and bloggers.