APPLICATION GUIDELINES Strengthening
t +387 33 266 615 Branilaca Sarajeva 14 f +387 33 266 616 Sarajevo, 71000 e [email protected] Bosnia and Herzegovina
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism Grants for cross-border investigations
The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network is offering cross-border story grants for journalists from the Western Balkans.
Grants are part of the Strengthening quality news and independent journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey programme.
THE PROGRAMME
Grantees will be selected on the basis of submitted applications. The grants are intended to increase cooperation between journalists in the region and their knowledge and skills through cooperation on cross-border investigative stories.
The Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism programme is designed to enhance trust among citizens in the media and create a safe environment for journalists to produce independent news content, through training and mentoring, technical and financial support, and through publication.
The project also aims to provide structural support for media freedom and integrity in the Western Balkans and Turkey.
Grantees are expected to produce cross-border investigation.
BIRN will provide mentorship.
The programme includes the following elements:
- Grant of €1,000 per journalist’s expenses - Ongoing mentoring and editorial support - Publication in English and agreed local languages
www.birn.eu.com
t +387 33 266 615 Branilaca Sarajeva 14 f +387 33 266 616 Sarajevo, 71000 e [email protected] Bosnia and Herzegovina
GRANT RULES
1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Who can participate? Regional teams with professional freelance or staff journalists are eligible to apply for the grant. Journalists can also apply individually, and BIRN will help them by connecting them with reporters in other countries to form a cross-border team. Teams and stories must be based in at least two of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Applicants should be proficient in English.
2. TOPIC
The topic for grantees’ cross-border investigation has to be relevant for, at least, two Western Balkan countries. Provide an outline of the issue that you will cover in your investigation. Why is it important, who does it affect, and how will the audience benefit from this project? Please include an overall situational description of the issue you would like to cover. Explain what makes this project relevant and interesting.
3. ELIGIBILITY AND COMPULSORY ACTIVITIES
Project idea and implementation The Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism grants are intended to increase cooperation between journalists in the region and their knowledge and skills. The project should feature journalists from at least two Western Balkan countries.
Editorial support will be available in English.
Research and travel costs are included in the €1,000 grant. Practical support will be provided by programme partners to help organise research trips and access information and sources. Grantees may carry out all forms of research necessary to further their approved project.
Illegal means of gathering information or trips without relevance to the grant will not be approved and should not be carried out.
Grantees must work cooperatively with the BIRN editorial team throughout the research, reporting and editorial phases. During the programme, grantees must keep in touch with and respond promptly to requests of the appointed BIRN editor and programme coordinator.
Grantees must cooperate with the programme’s editorial team throughout the whole process to resolve outstanding issues and prepare the submitted project for publication.
www.birn.eu.com
t +387 33 266 615 Branilaca Sarajeva 14 f +387 33 266 616 Sarajevo, 71000 e [email protected] Bosnia and Herzegovina
Editorial control BIRN editors will edit all material. While grantees retain the right to approve the version of the report which is published, BIRN editing will be compulsory. The English-language edition will be the definitive version, with other language versions provided by translating it.
Publication Projects will be published by BIRN and agreed publishing partners. BIRN will retain all rights to the projects, in all language versions and formats in which they are published. Grantees may not use, promote or publish versions of the reports other than the approved BIRN edit.
Duration and location The programme officially begins in September with preparatory activities, which include conducting initial research. The duration of the on-the-job mentoring will depend on the proposed project. All projects must be published before September 1st, 2020. Deadline for applications is one month after call opening.
4. FINANCIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Every grantee shall receive a €1,000 grant - Research and travel expenses are included in this €1,000 - BIRN will sign a contract with every grantee. The contract will define all further details
5. EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS
The final decision on the allocation of grants will be made by the selection committee, composed of experts on transitional justice. The best applications will be chosen based on scores:
1. PROJECT PROPOSAL CONTENT 1) Relevance (5 points) 2) Feasibility (5 points) 3) Originality (5 points)
2. CANDIDATE 1) Professional qualifications (5 points) 2) Motivation (5 points)
A maximum total score is 25 points.
6. NOTIFICATION OF SELECTED PROJECT PROPOSALS
All candidates will be informed by email about the results during November 2019.
www.birn.eu.com