1st Call for Project Proposals: Promotion of Media and Information Literacy

Introduction

This call for proposals is part of the regional project “SEECheck Network – Fighting Disinformation and Misinformation through a Network of Fact-checkers”, which the SeeCheck network is conducting in partnership with “Faktoje” from Albania and “Open Data Kosovo”, with the support of the European Commission. The project includes the disbursement of short-term grants aimed at strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations (CSO) and media outlets to counter disinformation in their respective public spaces.

SEE Check is a network of six fact-checking organizations from five countries in South-Eastern Europe that work on promoting media accountability, improving media literacy, and fighting misinformation and disinformation. The fact-checking web portals within the SeeCheck Network include Raskrinkavanje.ba (BiH), Raskrinkavanje.me (Montenegro), Raskrikavanje.rs (Serbia), Razkrinkavanje.si (Slovenia), Faktograf.hr (Croatia), and Fakenews.rs (Serbia).

Background

Addressing disinformation and effectively engaging audiences pose significant challenges for fact-checkers. The recent surge in disinformation, particularly during global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the aggression against Ukraine, has contributed to heightened negative attitudes toward fact-checking, driven by aggressive groups like conspiracy theorists and their followers.

The primary objective of this sub-granting program is to enhance the capacities of local media and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the SEE region to combat information disorder, improve the integrity of local media, and bolster community resilience to disinformation, with a focus on initiatives that target local audiences.

The SEE Check Network together with its partners will distribute 20 grants across the region to help organizations and local media outlets raise media literacy among their audiences, produce more credible reporting, and counter-narratives to disinformation.

Grants

The SEE Check Network and its partners are offering short-term grants for projects lasting between three and nine months. Grant amounts vary from €5,000 to €12,000. A total of 20 grants will be awarded across two rounds of calls in the total amount of €207.000.

The application for the first round of the Open Call for grants in 2024 is now open, with 10 grants to be awarded in the total amount of €103.500. A second Open Call for grants will be launched in January 2025, during which another 10 grants will be distributed in the total amount of €103.500.

Local media and CSOs are invited to apply for the SEE Check Granting Scheme under two LOTs:

LOT 1:

Support for local media initiatives to enhance fact-checking and credible reporting capacities. These grants are intended for local media entities seeking to engage in fact-checking activities or produce credible content, including debunking disinformation or creating credible fact-based narratives. Projects should result in the production and promotion of such content, alongside enhanced capacities among journalistic and editorial staff. A long-term commitment to producing specialized content and the developing internal procedures to ensure content accuracy and credibility will be advantageous in the selection process. Grants may also support the production of specialized engaging content tailored to specific audiences.

LOT 2:

Support for local CSOs to enhance capacities in combating disinformation, promoting media literacy, or building resilience. These grants aim to empower local CSOs in the SEE region to conduct activities that strengthen their ability to combat disinformation. Projects can include community initiatives, online campaigns, multimedia content production and promotion, research, advocacy, policy actions, trainings, or other activities that align with the objectives of the lot. Preference will be given to initiatives ensuring sustained CSO engagement in the above-mentioned fields.

All proposals must be submitted electronically to email address [email protected] with the email subject: ‘[Name of the Applicant] – SEE Check Network Project Application.‘

Proposals must be received by the 15 October 2024. Late proposals, or proposals submitted by any means other than indicated will not be considered.

All proposals and related data, knowledge, and documents will be treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016).

All project related inquiries and questions can be forwarded to email address [email protected] no later than 8 October.

Please find the Application form on the following link.

Please find the Budget form on the following link.

For more information on eligibility, criteria, financing, costs, training and mentoring and the selection process of eligible applications, please see the full text of this Call on the following link.