The Eurasia Media Innovation Challenge supports creative ways to produce and distribute high-quality content, leading to a better-informed public.
Deadline: 11 November 2018
Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan
The Eurasia Media Innovation Challenge supports creative ways to produce and distribute high-quality content, leading to a better-informed public.
The countries neighbouring Russia face the growing trends of state- and oligarch-controlled media, misinformation and propaganda. Eurasian audiences increasingly encounter biased or false information. At the same time, Eurasian countries face complex challenges, such as financial woes, global health issues and the threat of radicalized groups. High-quality, objective news coverage is essential so that people have the information they need to make better decisions, strive for better lives and hold the powerful to account.
This program offers grants of between US$5,000 and US$100,000 to applicants proposing innovative and entertaining projects to provide quality news and information to Russian-speaking populations in Eurasia. Proposals have included factual entertainment series, youth-focused content that utilizes new technologies, satire, cultural programs, mobile apps, games, documentaries and radio programs. Selected applicants receive the funds needed to cover the costs of their projects as well as expert mentoring and technical assistance to support their projects’ development.
The contest is open to content producers interested in reaching Russian-speaking audiences in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Only Russian-language projects are considered.
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Media Diversity Institute (MDI) with selected regional partners and experts help talented local individuals, media organizations, civil society representatives and others develop new ways to inform and engage audiences with entertaining, locally relevant, high-quality content.
Applications for this program are now open. The deadline to apply for the program is Sunday, November 11th, 2018. Applicants can apply here.
