Funding Boost for Independent Media in Western Balkans

   

Five independent media organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia have been awarded EU-funded production grants through the Innovation. Media. Minds. Program.

These grants aim to strengthen collaboration between independent media and public service broadcasters (PSBs) while fostering impactful journalism on key regional issues such as European Union integration, climate justice, corruption, disinformation, and mental health. Their projects will span countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The selected grantees and their projects include:

Semper – Service for Media Professional Education and Development / Gerila.info (Bosnia and Herzegovina): With activities spanning Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, this project will focus on investigative reporting to promote governance, transparency, and accountability focusing on exploitation and protection of natural resources.

Foundation for Debate and Education IDEA Southeast Europe (North Macedonia): Addressing climate justice and environmental sustainability, the project will explore community-driven solutions to global environmental challenges.

Southeast Europe TV Exchanges – SEETV (Serbia): Operating across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia, SEETV will produce collaborative investigative journalism and regional storytelling to foster greater cross-border understanding on the topic of EU integration path.

Novi Sad School of Journalism (Serbia): This project aims to combat disinformation through media literacy programs and educational content, empowering audiences to identify and counter fake news.

Creativity Factory (Serbia): Focused on mental health, this initiative will create content that raises awareness, reduces stigma, and fosters open dialogue on mental well-being.

The total funding of €149,820 will support the production of high-quality content tailored for digital platforms, television, and radio. These grants support independent research and production groups to create content that will be broadcasted by a partner public service media. Their aim is to promote independence and diversification on crucial cultural and social topics, while promoting regional cooperation and public interest journalism.

The Innovation. Media. Minds. program is managed by the Goethe-Institut on behalf of the European Commission, with its implementing partner DW Akademie. It focuses on public service broadcasters by aiming to enhance content and engage audiences, expand cooperation and networking capacity.