Innovation.
Media. Minds
In the western balkans program

We are delighted to announce the results of the second call for innovation project grants for Western Balkan public service media. Five Western Balkan public service broadcasters received up to 60,000 euros for their innovation projects to improve their content, engage new audiences, and address issues ranging from youth engagement, accessibility for the disabled, cultural heritage preservation, sustainability, and the integration of new technologies.
 

By Alen Pavić, Head of Graphics Department, BHRT

For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of contributing to the Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), where I currently lead the Graphics Department. My journey in media production has been rich with experiences in graphics, visual effects and television production. The significant milestone in my professional development was a recent opportunity to participate in a specialized Vizrt software training in Belgrade, as part of my mobility grant within the EU’s Innovation. Media. Minds Program: Support to Public Service Journalism in Western Balkans.

Co-hosted with Macedonian Radio Television (MRT), the EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds. Program held its First Semi-Annual Western Balkan Public Service Broadcasters’ Meeting from 24–26 February 2025 in Skopje, North Macedonia.
 

By Alen Pavić, Head of Graphics Department, BHRT

For the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of contributing to the Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), where I currently lead the Graphics Department. My journey in media production has been rich with experiences in graphics, visual effects and television production.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the open call for grants for regional co-production for public service media in the Western Balkans. This grant initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperation among public service broadcasters by supporting joint media content production on topics of common interest.
 

The Innovation. Media. Minds.: EU Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program is pleased to announce its second call for the international mobility grants for media professionals affiliated with Western Balkan Public Service Media (PSM).
 

By Besart Galica, RTK

Spending ten days with the Albanian Language Department at Deutsche Welle (DW) in Bonn, Germany through the EU Innovation. Media. Minds. Program’s International Mobility Grant, provided invaluable insights into ethical reporting practices—particularly on sensitive and tragic events—and reshaped my approach to journalism.
 

EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds. Program, is holding a workshop for Bosnian national broadcaster BHRT on program promotion from 10 -14 February 2025 in Sarajevo, BiH. The training includes overview of current processes, challenges and opportunities, drawing on examples from other public service media such as Deutsche Welle (DW) and Croatia’s HRT.

By Emir Zametica, BHRT

The opportunity to visit Croatian National Television (HRT) through the EU Innovation. Media. Minds. Program’s international mobility grant was one I eagerly embraced. Beyond the professional insights I hoped to gain, this visit turned out to be a deeply meaningful experience, connecting me to shared histories and cultures between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

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. 
 

The EU Innovation. Media. Minds. Program has awarded International Mobility Grants to nine media professionals from public service broadcasters in the Western Balkans. These recipients will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at esteemed media institutions across the European Union (EU) and the region.
 

Join us for online info sessions, where the Goethe-Institute will provide detailed insights about the Call for production grants for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans. The sessions will help potential applicants to better understand the requirements of the call and the application process.

Join us for online info sessions, where the Goethe-Institute will provide detailed insights about the Call for production grants for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans. The sessions will help potential applicants to better understand the requirements of the call and the application process.

The EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in the Western Balkans Program is pleased to announce the first open call for independent media and media organisations in the Western Balkans.

Call for applications | Deadline: 13.11.2024

Five public service broadcasters in the Western Balkans—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo*, and Serbia—have each been awarded €60,000 EU grants to co-finance their innovation projects over the next 12 months. These initiatives focus on advancing children, youth and minority programming, upgrading technology, improving content, and boosting community engagement.

EU-funded Innovation. Media. Minds. Program, is holding a workshop for Bosnian national broadcaster BHRT on program promotion from 10 -14 February 2025 in Sarajevo, BiH. The training includes overview of current processes, challenges and opportunities, drawing on examples from other public service media such as Deutsche Welle (DW) and Croatia’s HRT.
 

“We are a great group of young people. We had good and fun times, shared many nice ideas, and built strong friendships. We’re constantly communicating, collaborating, and improving our projects. Regardless of the result, we now have 30 new friends, and that’s what matters most,” said Vedran Prodić, Editor-in-Chief of the Youth Program at BH Radio 1, ahead of the EU’s Innovation. Media. Minds. (IMM) Next Gen Media Expo held in Belgrade on November 1, 2024.
 

Tirana, Albania, September 29 - October 6, 2024 – Young media professionals from seven public broadcasters across the Western Balkans, alongside university students, influencers, and colleagues from other media outlets and organizations, gathered in Tirana for the NextGen Media Lab (NML). This week-long event is part of the European Union’s (EU) Innovation. Media. Minds. (IMM) Program, which supports public service journalism in the Western Balkans.

28. May, Budva, Montenegro – In a significant move to advance public service journalism in the Western Balkans, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Director Generals of seven public service broadcasters, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut and DW Akademie.

Bonn, Mainz (14-20 April, 2024) - As part of the European Union (EU) Program “Innovation. Media. Minds.: Support to Public Service Journalism in Western Balkans” managed by the Goethe Institut on behalf of the European Commission and its implementing partner DW Akademie representatives from six Western Balkan public service media completed a week-long visit to  DW News headquarters in Bonn and ZDF in Mainz from 14 – 19 April 2024.