Syndication

  • #ESJS2024 website

    Exciting news! The website for the European Solutions Journalism Summit is now live, and registration is officially open! Join us as we break down barriers and foster a sense of belonging within the European solutions journalism community. Visit our website to learn more about the summit’s program, speakers, and to secure your spot. 👉🏼sojosummit.transitionsmedia.org

  • Updates from Sarajevo: Conference and New Project Kickoff

    We recently hosted the “Navigating Influence in the News Arena: Regional Conference on Exploring Tactics to Resist Disinformation and Influence” in Sarajevo on June 24-25, 2024. Organized in partnership with SEENPM, this event was connected with the POINT conference, broadening topics and offering enhanced networking opportunities with regional and global experts. The conference featured discussions on the impact of malign foreign influence and workshops on how to cover this topic in newsrooms. 

    Additionally, we are excited to announce the kickoff of a new project focused on media literacy for seniors. This project, launched during a meeting in Sarajevo, is a partnership with Media Centar Sarajevo (Bosnia), Montenegro Media Institute, and Media Literacy Coalition (Bulgaria). It aims to equip older adults with the skills to navigate today’s media landscape.

    Both events included sessions sharing valuable experiences and lessons learned from Czechia, generating new ideas for research and training. This paves the way for innovative approaches to counter disinformation and malign influence, and enhance media literacy.

  • Announcing the First Cohort of the SoJo Europe Program: A Diverse Collective of Newsrooms Driving Solutions Journalism Across Europe

    We are thrilled to announce the selection of the first 10 newsrooms for the SoJo Europe program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to foster solutions journalism across Europe. These newsrooms represent a diverse array of countries and media landscapes, each bringing unique perspectives and strengths to the program. This diversity is the cornerstone of the SoJo Europe program, promising rich, cross-border collaborations and a robust exchange of ideas that will significantly advance the practice and impact of solutions journalism in Europe.

    We look forward to seeing the innovative stories and impactful collaborations that will emerge from this incredible cohort, and help redefine the landscape of European journalism. #SoJoEurope

    • Maldita.es (Spain): A non-profit foundation, Maldita.es builds public trust by fighting disinformation and promoting transparency through journalism, education, technology, research, and policy action. A pioneering fact-checking organization, Maldita.es combats misinformation with a unique multi-platform approach. Known for its community engagement and robust media literacy programs, Maldita.es plays a crucial role among Spanish media.
    • RADAR Magazine (Italy): An independent media outlet, RADAR Magazine covers the most important environmental crises of the present – climate change, global biodiversity loss, pollution – and their ripple effects on our society. RADAR strongly believes in a solutions journalism approach that highlights not only problems, but also solutions, and that is free and accessible to all.
    • Ekonews (Czech Republic): Ekonews specializes in business and sustainability news, emphasizing the importance of green practices and economic development. The website is dedicated to informing and inspiring its audience about sustainable living and ethical business choices, focusing on a wide range of topics related to the climate crisis and sustainability for both companies and individuals.
    • Radio FM99 (Lithuania): As one of Lithuania’s first commercial radio stations, Radio FM99 has a long-standing reputation for quality broadcasting. It covers a wide range of topics, focusing on life, politics, and culture in southern Lithuania, as well as civic activities and sports. It is still the only regional radio station in this part of the country, broadcasting in the Lithuanian language from Alytus, the sixth-largest city, and the biggest spa city Druskininkai.
    • Vers Beton (Netherlands): An independent media platform, Vers Beton focuses on urban issues in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, providing in-depth local journalism. The website highlights city life and governance, fostering a better understanding of urban challenges and solutions and informs concerned Rotterdammers about developments in their city through facts, insights, and understanding. Vers Beton publishes mainly investigative stories, as well as podcasts.
    • Slow News (Italy): Practicing slow journalism, Slow News is committed to providing well-researched, thoughtful stories by delving deeper, researching meticulously to provide news stories and analyses that break away from the rapid and often superficial news cycle dominating mainstream media today. Slow News prioritizes quality over speed, ensuring its reporting is thorough and impactful. 
    • Rubryka (Ukraine): As Ukraine’s first solutions journalism outlet, Rubryka focuses on reporting constructive stories that highlight innovative and practical solutions to societal problems, especially those emerging out of a conflict zone. Its work is crucial in a country undergoing significant transformation and challenges. Rubryka specializes in environmental issues, urbanism, women’s rights, and gender equality. 
    • Mensagem de Lisboa (Portugal): A community-based digital newsroom, Mensagem de Lisboa serves Lisbon with hyper-local news and issues critical to the city, such as urbanism, mobility, housing, and local government, using a solutions journalism lens. The newsroom emphasizes community engagement and storytelling that connects with local audiences on a personal level. 
    • Scena9 (Romania): A Romanian news outlet, Scena9 positions itself at the intersection between culture, journalism, and education and covers a wide range of cultural and societal issues. It publishes various types of articles, from reportages and interviews to reviews, investigations, and profiles. Scena9 is known for its creative storytelling and deep dives into the arts, culture, and social matters. 
    • Lavialibera (Italy): Lavialibera is dedicated to in-depth reporting and investigations on social issues. A paper and online magazine, the organization covers issues related to mafia groups, corruption, climate change, migration, and social movements.

  • Inclusive Media Literacy: Engaging the Elderly Across the Visegrad Region

    Join us for an online event that combines our insights and experiences from a collaborative media literacy project spanning the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. Our project takes an audience-centred approach, emphasizing trust-building and participation to effectively address the specific needs of elderly people.

    Led by our organizations – Transitions (Czechia), MEMO98 (Slovakia), The Association of Creative Initiatives “ę” (Poland), and the Center for Investigative Journalism (Hungary) – we will showcase the diverse strategies and lessons learned in promoting media literacy across different cultural and political contexts.

    Through practical case studies and honest reflections, attendees will gain valuable insights into:

    • How we tailored media literacy programs to the elderly/senior audience
    • Our approaches to fostering engagement, trust, and participation among this demographic
    • How we leveraged unique local contexts and experiences for greater impact
    • Best practices for sustaining long-term Media Literacy Initiatives

    To give you a taste of our approach, we’ve included a short video that showcases one of our activities, demonstrating how we engage elderly audiences.

    Whether you are an educator, journalist, fact-checker, scholar, activist, or simply passionate about empowering vulnerable groups with media literacy skills, this event offers an invaluable opportunity to learn from our ground-level experiences working directly with this vital audience segment.

    Join us for an enriching experience and take away actionable strategies to enhance your own media literacy efforts, particularly those targeting elderly and senior communities.

    Date: June 12, 2024

    Time: 2:30 PM CET

    Please use this link to register for the ZOOM session.

    This project was supported by the National Endowment for Democracy.

  • Announcing the Inaugural European Solutions Journalism Summit!

    Too often, passionate solutions journalism practitioners find themselves working in isolation, their valuable insights confined to silos. That ends now! Mark your calendars for a pivotal gathering that will redefine the landscape of European journalism. Join us as we break down barriers and foster a sense of belonging within the European solutions journalism community. #ESJS2024 Dates: 27-28 September 2024, Prague

    More info https://transitionsmedia.org/sojosummit

  • A Reflective Journey Through Solutions Journalism and Mentorship

    In my journey into solutions journalism (SJ), I’ve encountered several distinct differences from traditional journalism. One of the most striking disparities lies in the narrative structure. While conventional journalism often focuses on highlighting problems and conflicts, SJ seeks to provide a balanced perspective by reporting on challenges and presenting potential solutions. 

    This shift in focus brings a refreshing perspective to storytelling, offering readers hope and empowerment. However, this approach also demands more profound research and analysis to uncover and evaluate practical solutions. While traditional journalism may find it relatively straightforward to report on issues, delving into solutions requires a more nuanced understanding of the context and the various stakeholders involved.

    Throughout my journey with SJ, I’ve experienced several “aha moments” that have shaped my understanding and approach to storytelling, and one such moment occurred when I realized the transformative power of solutions-oriented reporting in inspiring positive change within communities. Witnessing the impact of stories that not only shed light on problems but also showcased tangible solutions reinforced my belief in the potential of journalism to drive meaningful social progress.

    From my experience, I’ve gleaned valuable lessons to share with fellow journalists embarking on their own endeavors in solutions journalism. Firstly, I’d emphasize the importance of cultivating a solutions-oriented mindset, actively seeking out stories of innovation and resilience amid adversity. I’d also recommend fostering collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, including community members, experts, and organizations, to ensure comprehensive coverage and analysis of solutions. Lastly, I’d encourage journalists to maintain a critical yet optimistic approach, acknowledging the complexities of social issues while remaining committed to uncovering pathways to positive change.

    Reflecting on my experience, I’m eager to pursue another SJ story driven by a passion for amplifying voices of hope and progress. I believe I will soon find an idea as inspiring as the story of the centers offering care and education to children with disabilities in Montenegro, which interested a worldwide audience.

    Looking ahead, there are areas where support and improvement could enhance the effectiveness of SJ initiatives. Providing journalists with access to specialized training and resources tailored to SJ methodologies could improve their ability to effectively identify, analyze, and report on solutions. Additionally, fostering a supportive community of practice where journalists can exchange insights, share best practices, and collaborate on projects could contribute to the growth and sustainability of SJ as a transformative force in journalism. 

    This type of journalism has yet to take off in Montenegro, and we hardly have any training or workshops on this topic, although this would be extremely useful for journalists. Through my further work in the NGO sector, I intend to initiate this type of activity and training in future journalism projects. I will be happy to recommend that all young journalist colleagues follow the work of Transitions and consider applying for support for their own solutions-oriented stories.

    In conclusion, my journey into solutions journalism has been both enlightening and empowering, offering a fresh perspective on the role of journalism in fostering positive social change. As I continue to navigate this dynamic field, I remain committed to upholding the principles of SJ and leveraging the power of storytelling to inspire a brighter, more hopeful future.

    Finally, I would especially like to thank my mentors and editors at Transitions. They were very patient and ready to help at any time, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn from them.

    All the best,

    Teodora

    Teodora Djurnic works for the Montenegro Media Institute, an organization that promotes higher standards of journalism, media literacy, and freedom of expression.

  • Taktak Project: the Integrated Collaborative donation solution for Journalism

    Eight European media organizations launched Taktak, a donation solution backed by the European Commission. Its aim: to create a new revenue stream for news media and journalists through collaborative reader donations per article, facilitated by user-friendly tech tools. It addresses the ongoing challenge of sustaining quality journalism with innovative economic models.

    What is it?

    The Taktak project, originally called Do-Jo, changed its name as it was associated with prominent international brands which would have certainly reduced its visibility. The project needs to have its own unique identity for the release of the product we aim to build and launch on the market. Tak meaning “Thank you” in Scandinavian languages, we felt like Taktak would better reflect the philosophy of the project. #TaktakSolution

    The consortium’s diversity in scale and geographic coverage, which includes media covering individual cities (Mensagem in Lisbon, Pod Tepeto in Plovdiv in Bulgaria), countries (La Marea in Spain, Livy Bereg in Ukraine) and international (Worldcrunch) can bring the tool from local, regions, national and transnational levels. It can create solutions that address the needs of the youngest journalists who must face the risks of job and income instability in the future.

    As a project, the objective of the Taktak solution is to increase revenue and promote quality journalism by fusing three key realities in the current economic context of the industry:

    1. the collaborative relationship between media and freelance journalists, who hold an increasingly important place in the news ecosystem as staff positions are reduced;

    2. the untapped opportunities of media working together on joint reporting efforts, and across languages;

    3. the growth in direct reader revenue, in particular in the form of donations.

    The goal is to build an innovative technology donationpayment and revenue-share solution based on their existing needs and experience and integrate consolidated insights from the industry to be able to scale up the solution throughout Europe, and beyond.

    By combining donation on a per-article basis with revenue share between parties, Taktak will encourage both journalists and media to commit to producing the kind of high-quality and diverse coverage that has proven to trigger more donation revenue.

    Thanks to a new revenue stream and a direct connection with readers through donation features, the Taktak project’s secondary objectives are to encourage the production of more quality journalism, collaboration between different actors, a diversity of voices and plurality of media, increase engagement with readers, foster resilience and share best practices across the partners of consortium and the sector.

    By combining donations on a per-article basis with revenue share between parties, Taktak will encourage both journalists and media to commit to producing the kind of high-quality and diverse coverage that has proven to trigger more donation revenue.

    For whom?

    Freelance journalists seeking to collaborate on a new revenue model that embraces post-advertising dynamics and prioritizes direct reader relationships while considering authors’ needs.

    Budget

    The Taktak project involves investing €1,376,040 over 2 years. This funding will directly benefit 5 independent news media outlets, their journalists, 2 news media associations, and the project’s technological partner. The European Commission will provide 80% (€1,100,832) of the funding through the Journalism Partnerships – Collaboration call, with the remaining 20% (€275,208) coming from the Taktak consortium partners’ own funds.

    Consortium members

    The jury will assess the applications based on the following criteria:

    ATC

    Founded in 1987, ATC (www.atc.gr) is an Information Technology Company (SME) offering solutions and services in specific business sectors, including the Media, Banking, and the Public Sector, developed on the latest technologies for Content Management, Enterprise Software, Web and Mobile Applications.

    One of the primary commercial activities for ATC is the development of products and services for the media market, in which they have customers in several EU countries, Eastern Europe, the CIS countries, and the Balkans. Particularly in recent years, they have acknowledged misinformation as a major issue and have focused their work on designing tools to help media practitioners tackle the phenomenon. Since June 2020, ATC is part of the European Digital Media Observatory (www.edmo.eu) providing the technical infrastructure (based on Truly Media, the collaborative verification platform developed by ATC and Deutsche Welle) that supports EDMO’s communities of fact-checkers and researchers in studying and analyzing disinformation.

    Since 2011, ATC has participated in several EU funded projects that deal with mis- and disinformation and social media analysis, through which they have acquired a more targeted experience in relevant technologies used to monitor and analyze disinformation. Some of these results have turned into products that are used by broadcasters, news agencies, and journalists worldwide to verify and fact-check online content. Finally, their market position as a commercial software provider in the media industry and their long term involvement in large scale R&I media projects have equipped them with a solid knowledge of how to design systems and products that are useful to and cover the needs of media professionals working in the disinformation domain.

    La Marea

    La Marea is a leading independent Spanish magazine focused on human rights and politics, launched through a crowdfunding campaign in 2012 in Madrid, Spain. Currently the media has a bimonthly print edition and online presence, with over 4,000 subscribers.

    Since La Marea was born, it has enabled readers’ donations through the articles published online and has also launched 6 specific crowdfunding campaigns, including one in collaboration with another media. During its last crowd-funding campaign La Marea has raised more than 285 000 euros of revenue – leading, at that time, the ranking of number of patrons on the Goteo crowdfunding platform, Spain’s most influential-. Moreover, the cooperative behind the media is funded primarily by its readers and shareholders. Overall, more than 200 freelancers have collaborated with La Marea over the past ten years.

    Livy Bereg

    LB.UA (Leviy Bereg) is an independent Ukrainian mass media. LB.ua has been covering social and political developments in Ukraine since 2009. The website is updated simultaneously in Ukrainian and English languages. LB.UA has more than 5 million unique visitors per month.

    Over the years the website has featured thousands of articles, investigations and interviews, many of which have had a direct impact on key political decisions in the country. The independence of our publication is our main value. And the support of our readers is our pride and responsibility.

    LB.UA has a YouTube channel LB Live. The team produces interviews with top Ukrainian politicians, opinion leaders, volunteers, military, etc. LB Live also makes documentary films.

    LB.UA is regularly cited by both national and international mass media outlets.

    Mensagem de Lisboa

    Mensagem de Lisboa is a hiper-local, digital and community journalism project, based in a cafĂŠ in the historic downtown of Lisboa, aiming to connect all parts of the city. It was founded in 2021 by a diverse small team (age diverse, genre diverse and origin diverse), with the firm idea of bringing a new constructive and inspirational form of local journalism to a capital city that can sometimes be a news desert. Its motto is to promote empathy through knowledge and it covers all the metropolitan areas regarding urban matters (development, environment, mobility), social matters (housing, equality, poverty), cultural (history, urban studies, arts), and communities (underserved, expats, ethnically diverse.) It’s funded by a main backer – an entrepreneur in Lisbon – and it relies on donations and special sponsored projects.

    Pod Tepeto

    Founded in 2009 by journalists Ivaylo Dernev and Dimitar Semkov, Pod tepeto is a pioneering digital media outlet that was established in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was one of the first regional media organizations in the country and has since remained dedicated to providing unbiased and independent news coverage. The newsroom has won numerous awards for its exceptional journalism, including the Plovdiv Award, the Courageous Reporters Award, and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and SBZ Award. The influence of Pod tepeto extends beyond its regional base and is regularly cited by national news channels.

    Transitions

    Transitions is a non-profit organization based in Prague in 1999, established to strengthen the professionalism, independence and impact of news media, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We do this through a combination of journalism and media training programs, and the publication of Transitions magazine. Our mission is to support high-quality, independent journalism and foster an informed and engaged public. We have developed our own online learning platform for both mentored and self-learning courses and regularly run webinars and workshops. More than 10,000 people have passed through our training programs, including journalism students and journalists under-30, with courses specializing in traditional journalism skills; the latest digital techniques; media literacy; and combatting disinformation.

    WAN-IFRA

    WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, is the global organisation of the world’s press. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists and publishers around the world to operate independent media. We provide our members with expertise and services to innovate and prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in society. It derives its authority from its global network of 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 60 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. See more at wan-ifra.org.

    WorldcrunchWorldcrunch is a Paris-based digital magazine which delivers the best international journalism in English for the first time, by working in partnership with the world’s top media sources (Die Welt, Les Echos, Jeune Afrique, Kommersant, 端傳媒; El Espectador and 25+ others) and a team of multilingual journalists and translators to publish exclusive reportage and provide a uniquely global view of events.

    Project updates

    July 25, 2024

    🗞️Taktak newsletter

    To stay in the loop, sign up for the Taktak newsletter. Also do not miss our session on monetizing journalism at our Solution Journalism Summit in September, where we will touch the Taktak solution base as well!

    June 18, 2024

    The Taktak website is now available!

    June 11, 2024

    🚨 Attention European Journalists! 🗞️

    We need your valuable insights to enhance the journalism labour market. Please take just 10 minutes to complete our survey, which is available in 13 languages. Your participation is crucial in helping us understand the needs and challenges faced by journalists across Europe.
    Let’s work together to create a better future for journalism!

    Press Release

  • An online session to learn about climate-solutions reporting and our grant program

    In recent years, we’ve put in a lot of effort to challenge and change the way journalism has been traditionally practiced to create awareness about a more holistic approach to storytelling – a way forward that shows the “whole” story by breaking away from negative, problem-centric reporting to more nuanced, evidence-based, solutions-focused journalism. 

    We are proud and excited to announce the launch of a two-year support program to stimulate the production of cross-border, solutions-oriented, and investigative reporting across Europe. This first-of-its-kind program brings an opportunity to European newsrooms to collaborate and innovate! With this project, we are looking to recruit a total of 18 newsrooms that can earn up to 40,000 euros of grant funding along with training and mentoring support.  What are the benefits you ask? More details can be found here.

    Are you interested in applying for the SoJo Europe program and learning about climate-solutions journalism? Then join our online session with Transition’s Executive Director Jeremy Druker, solutions journalism trainer, Meenal Thakur, and freelance climate journalist, Florence Gault.

    In this session, you will:

    • Learn the basics of solutions journalism;
    • Find out the details of the grant program and how to apply;
    • Hear some secrets to fostering deeper connections and engagement with your readers;
    • Delve into the realm of climate-focused solutions journalism; and 
    • Discover innovative storytelling techniques to highlight effective responses to the climate crisis.

    🗓️ Save the Date:

    📅 Date:  13th March

    🕒 Time: 4-5 pm CET

    🖥️ Where: Register here.

    Reserve your spot now and embark on a journey towards more impactful journalism!

  • Empowering Elders: A Media Literacy Journey from V4 to the Balkans

    Countering Disinformation among Vulnerable Populations

    Project Summary: 

    The “Empowering Elders: Media Literacy Journey from V4 to the Balkans” project, led by Transitions in collaboration with V4 region experts, is a two-year initiative designed to enhance media literacy among senior citizens in Bosnia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. Recognizing that this demographic is often overlooked in media education activities and more vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda, the project aims to bolster their resilience by equipping them with critical media literacy skills. In addition to empowering seniors, this initiative aims to build the capacity of local partners to deliver effective media literacy interventions, helping to create an environment that values and promotes quality journalism.

    The project will employ proven methodologies drawn from successful media literacy models in the V4 region, utilizing a range of activities such as interactive workshops, training programs, and resource development. By fostering a community of skilled media literacy trainers, enhancing digital confidence among seniors, and facilitating the sharing of best practices across the region, the initiative is poised to establish sustainable structures and networks for media education. The ultimate objective is to cultivate a resilient, well-informed media landscape that fosters democratic growth and reduces the vulnerability of senior citizens to misinformation and societal polarization.

    Project Activities: 

    In 2024-26, Transitions Online and its partners in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria will utilize NED support to:

    • Conduct a baseline study in each targeted country to tailor the methodology to local contexts.

    • Convene 36 interactive sessions (12 per country) for at least 540 seniors to expose them to the nature of disinformation and techniques for confident digital navigation. Each event will include a combination of workshops, discussions and hands-on exercises. They will cover topics such as: introduction to media literacy, basics of fact-checking, digital security, disinformation techniques and propaganda, hate speech, understanding journalism among others.

    • Conduct one full day Training of Trainers event in each participating country, engaging eight participants each in Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina and six in Montenegro. During the course, participants will receive intensive training and mentoring, which will enable them to conduct senior media education activities on their own.

    • Upgrade existing educational resources and create new ones based on needs assessments conducted in each country, to facilitate workshops and events. These resources will be designed in senior-friendly formats and comprise interactive guides, multimedia content, engaging activities and real-world examples. At least three instruction materials will be developed and distributed in each country.

    • Strengthen the community of media literacy practitioners, through a kick-off event in Sarajevo and a Barcamp event towards the end of the second year. This will enable the formation of a vibrant community of media literacy practitioners in each country and foster continuous exchange of knowledge and best practices among practitioners.

    Project Partners: 

    Media Literacy Coalition (Bulgaria): https://gramoten.li/en/home/

    Media and Civil Society Development Foundation “Mediacentar” (Bosnia) : https://media.ba/bs

    Montenegro Media Institute (MMI): https://www.mminstitute.org/en/

  • PluPro Project: Multifaceted Support for European Cross-border Investigative JournalismPluPro Project

    2024-02-16

    Europe  to set up transnational investigations together. At the same time, journalists and media can receive newsroom training, scholarships and mentoring in addition to financial support.

    Corporate and political power is shifting to the international and local level. The PluPro project (from “Pluralism Prodemos” Latin for “we want to promote pluralism”) aims to give journalists and (local and national) media a push to set up transnational investigations together. The budget has grown substantially (€2,230,000 in grants), with thanks to the donors. In addition to financial support, journalists and media can receive newsroom training, scholarships and mentoring.

    The PluPro project is co-funded by the European Commission (Creative Europe), Limelight Foundation and Vereniging Veronica. The programme is managed by two organisations led by Journalismfund Europe (Belgium) in collaboration with Transitions (Czech Republic).

    What is it?

    It is the continuation of Journalismfund’s award-winning European Cross-border grant programme that has been running since 2009 and the continuation of Journalismfund’s European Local Cross-Border grant programme. On top of the existing grants, mentoring and scholarships, it now includes an additional programme for training of newsrooms and journalists.

    The programme will consist of:

    • A grant, mentoring and scholarships programme for European cross-border investigative journalism which has been running since 2009 (ECB)
    • A grant, mentoring and scholarships programme for European cross-border LOCAL investigative journalism which has been running since 2022 (CBLocal)
    • Newsroom training, subgrants for two cohorts of newsrooms with mentoring
    • A cross-border investigative journalism (online) training programme for professional journalists
    • A follow-up and a wide dissemination of the supported stories among the European public, and of the learnings and knowledge among the journalistic community across Europe.

    In more detail:

    1. Grant programmes

    European Cross-border Grants (ECB)

    This grant programme aims to address the shortage of independent journalism by providing grants to investigative journalism projects in Europe and encouraging cross-border collaboration. It supports cross-border teams of professional journalists and/or news outlets who have good ideas for cross-border investigations and for research on European topics. The stories must be relevant to European target groups. Next to a grant, teams can also apply for a mentor to provide assistance with either the focus of the investigation or the need for competences in a specific skill. They can also apply for scholarships to share their investigations with their colleagues.

    European Local Cross-border Grants

    This grant programme aims at addressing the shortage of local independent journalism by administering grants to local investigative journalistic projects in Europe and stimulating cross-border collaboration. It stimulates local journalists and (small) news outlets to conduct investigative journalism and learn from colleagues in other countries, creating a European network of local (investigative) journalists in the long run. At the same time, it encourages local journalists and news outlets to compare with other regions and cities in other countries that face similar problems or challenges, which are eminently European issues. Also in this programme, teams can apply for mentoring and scholarships.

    1. Newsroom training

    The project aims to empower 50 local independent media outlets, fostering resilience and viability through capacity-building activities, design-learning innovation, and a repository of case studies and best practices. It will encourage a culture of innovation at the local level through introducing media personnel to a design-learning approach focused on audience research, prototyping, and testing new products and services. This initiative will include a small grants programme plus mentoring, as well as a kick-off online meeting with the selected grantees, and two, in person workshops for media representatives. By the end of the project, it will have accumulated a vast set of case studies and best practices that can then be shared with other newsrooms across Europe, in countries suffering from a lack of plurality and beyond. All project outputs will be freely accessible, fostering ongoing professional development beyond the programme’s duration.

    1. A cross-border investigative journalism (online) training programme

    As a first step, we will explore the needs of the journalism community in European countries where media plurality is under threat, starting with a comprehensive online survey, complemented by a series of in-depth interviews with the target audience. An opening webinar to introduce the project will also serve as a gathering point for additional information. The topics highlighted through this research will be packaged into a series of 10 live workshops of 90 minutes each (5 per year). These online sessions will be the primary vehicle to introduce participants to the expert mentors and the given topic. Simultaneously, as the live workshops’ series progresses, we will develop interactive, self-directed online learning modules that will deliver practical skills via simulations and interactive exercises based on the participants’ needs identified during the live workshops. These modules will be also widely promoted to journalists who did not enrol in the workshop series, as these outputs should serve as a useful interactive resource for any journalist interested in the topics. After the completion of each standalone module, the users will be offered a live mentoring session with an expert.

    For whom?

    Teams of journalists and/or independent media preferably from two European countries are eligible to apply. At least 80% of your requested budget should go to journalists/media from EU countries. As of tradition, Journalismfund offers “matchmaking assistance” to journalists  and media looking for a partner in another country. Journalismfund has a database of nearly 11,000 journalists and 2,800 media companies.

    Budget

    The total budget of this two-year project is about 3,3 million euro with 90% supported by the EU under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA). Limelight Foundation and Vereniging Veronica will cover the remainder of the budget.

    Deadlines

    The deadline for applications for the European Cross-border Grant Programme and the CB Local Programme is 25th of April 2024 at 1PM. .
    We’re always happy to discuss your project and help you with your application before. So don’t hesitate to book a pre-application meeting with the grant coordinator here.

    You can submit an application through our application platform.

    Consortium members

    Journalismfund Europe

    Journalismfund Europe, the coordinator and leading partner in this project, is a non-profit intermediary based in Brussels. Its mission is to strengthen democracy by advancing independent cross-border investigative journalism in Europe. Journalismfund Europe is already an established name in the European investigative journalism community, and even beyond. For its existing grant programmes, in 2023 it received 865 applications from 1,682 applicants (journalists and media) from 84 different countries, demonstrating a vast geographical reach.

    Journalismfund is the only intermediary in Europe set up for this purpose.

    To find out more about all Journalismfund’s other grant programmes, visit the website: www.journalismfund.eu/grants

    Transitions

    Transitions is a non-profit organisation based in Prague, with a mission of supporting high-quality, independent journalism and an informed and engaged public. Transitions runs a wide variety of journalism and media training programmes, and publishes Transitions, an online magazine that focuses on Central and Eastern Europe, as well as solutions journalism. In this project, Transitions will be responsible for the workshops and training for the newsrooms.

    This project is organized by Transitions in collaboration with Journalismfund Europe and co-funded by the European Commission, Limelight Foundation, and Veronica Association.

    Workshop Opportunity!

    Date: June 10, 2024 at 4 PM CET

    Location: Online

    Registration Link

    The workshop is ideal for journalists planning to apply for upcoming cross-border grants. It will provide practical advice on forming successful partnerships and developing compelling story ideas.

  • Constructive News: Fostering Solutions Journalism Across Europe.

    Transitions kickstarted a two-year-long project funded by the European Commission – Constructive News: Fostering Solutions Journalism Across Europe. Led by Transitions and supported by three other organisations — Journalismfund Europe (Belgium), the Constructive Institute (Denmark), and The South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM) — this 1.6 million euro project aims to stimulate the production of cross-border, solutions-oriented, and investigative reporting across Europe, and making the European independent news media more innovative, sustainable, and responsive to their audiences. We just opened applications for newsrooms to become members of the first, cross-European solutions journalism cohort and become eligible for up to 40,000 euros in funding per newsroom. #SoJoEurope

    SoJo Europe Application Details

    Become a member of the first cross-European cohort of newsrooms practising solutions journalism and receive grants for cross-border, solutions-oriented, and investigative reporting across Europe.

    Eligibility Criteria

    • This grant programme is open to all small legal entities (media outlets/newsrooms). This project will target news outlets from all Creative Europe participating countries: EU27, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Ukraine.
    • The legal entities should have a turnover of less than 1.5M EUR and shouldn’t be part of a group or consortium with a consolidated turnover that exceeds an amount of 3M EUR.
    • The media outlets must be legal entities officially incorporated at least one year before the application deadline of the grant call. 
    • Media outlets should already have made journalistic content available to a general public at least one year before the application deadline of the grant call (no Business2Business journalism).
    • The aim of this grant programme is to stimulate solutions journalism across Europe through the creation of a cross-European cohort of newsrooms who pledge to expand their production of solutions-oriented content. Grants will only be available to cohort members. For more information about cohort membership, see below. 
    • Grants will be mainly available in three major areas: to publish solutions-oriented stories related to climate change; to combine investigative journalism and solutions journalism, i.e. to investigate a problem and then an effective response to that problem; and to expand revenue generation based on increased production of solutions-participating media outlets must cooperate with at least one other cohort member
    • Training organisations cannot apply for this grant.
    • Only one project application is possible per applicant.
    • Only applications submitted via the Journalismfund Europe’s online application platform will be eligible.
    • The grantees and all other persons involved in the project have to endorse the principles of the Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists as well as the national codes of ethics that are in force.

    Technical Assistance and Mentors (Media Experts)

    • Successful applicants for grant funds will be assigned mentors to provide feedback during story production (though, of course, we realise that some applicants will have more experience than others). Consortium partners led by Transitions will assign mentors from its pool of mentors (consisting of experienced investigative and solutions journalists from across Europe), in consultation with the media outlet.
    • Mentors are selected based on either the focus of the story or the need for competences in a specific skill. A mentor can have a significant positive influence on a team and its story, particularly for journalists with less experience in the field of solutions journalism and/or transnational, investigative stories. The total sessions available for mentorship depends on the case at hand and the needs of the journalists involved.
    • A mentor gives advice, shares knowledge and can act as a sounding board. S/he does not fully participate in the investigation or solutions story. The average amount of mentoring days per project is three, the maximum five.    
    • Mentors will also be available in the area of revenue generation, i.e. media outlets who wish to explore revenue models based on the production of increased solutions/constructive journalism. 
    • The mentors will be paid from the budgets of consortium members. The applicants do not need to include a mentor in their budget proposal.

    Deadlines and Timing

    • For the selection to become a member of the cohort, there are two application rounds scheduled, one in 2024 and the other in 2025.
    • The first application deadline will be 04 April 2024 
    • After the application deadline, independent jury members will assess the applications for formal compliance with the eligible countries and completeness of answers. They will make their determinations on who will be part of the cohort based on the criteria set forth. 
    • Applicants are usually informed about the decision around 40 days after the application deadline.
    • Subscribe to Transitions Solutions Journalism’s newsletter to stay tuned and receive the latest updates.

    Assessment Criteria

    The jury will assess the applications based on the following criteria:

    • Enthusiasm for a solutions-journalism approach
    • Experience in the area of solutions/constructive journalism 
    • Experience in investigative journalism
    • Experience in cross-border journalism
    • Quality of research methods and presentation/storytelling
    • Team structure and experience of the applicants
    • Work effort requirement
    • Pooling research capacity and knowledge
    • Ability to demonstrate adherence to core journalism principles: fact-based, accurate, independent, fair, impartial, accountable
    • Respect the right to reply for people being criticised
    • Have a publicly accessible code of ethics describing the principles above.
    • Provide information and encourage information exchange and debate on public interest issues.

    Finally, the selection team will also take into consideration the variety within the global selection of granted projects. This means diversity in terms of:

    • Region (both in topics and team members – north, south, east, west dimensions of Europe, pan-European projects)
    • Team composition (gender, age, experience, skills, media background, origin)
    • Methods and approaches (data approach, solution journalism approach, etc.)
    • Diversity of outputs/publications (print, online, multimedia, video, TV, radio)

    Jury

    • The applications are assessed by an independent jury of experts in solutions journalism. The jury members are collectively chosen by Journalismfund Europe and the consortium partners based upon a long list of names suggested by all parties involved.
    • The jury decides independently which media outlets will be part of the cohort, based on the grant rules and on the assessment criteria.
    • Both Journalismfund Europe, the consortium partners, and the jury members are bound to strict confidentiality – before, during and after evaluation of the applications.
    • The jury members remain anonymous until all the projects are finalised, to safeguard both the independence of the jury process and the confidentiality of the applicants and its investigations.
    • Jury members are bound to Journalismfund Europe’s strict conflict of interest policy, which is designed to ensure the highest standards in terms of ethical conduct and to ensure the independence and objectivity of decision making.

    Grant Conditions (For subsequent calls open to cohort members)

    • The grantees and all other persons/organisations involved in the project shall endorse the principles of the Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists as well as the national codes of ethics that are in force (i.e. Truth & Accuracy, Independence, Fairness and Impartiality, Humanity and Accountability).
    • Every grantee signs an Agreement with Journalismfund Europe that states the mutual arrangements and conditions.
    • Grants are paid in two instalments: the first (2/3) upon signature of the Agreement, the second (1/3) after publication of the project and submission and approval of the financial report and supporting documents (in this respect please read the Financial Report tab in the budget template carefully).
    • Grants are paid in euro. They are only paid out on the bank accounts of the grantees, not via other money transfer services. Any bank charges for international payments are carried by Journalismfund Europe, except for exchange rates.
    • Any journalistic product that is the result of the supported project explicitly has to mention the support from Journalismfund Europe.
    • Applicants need to consent with Journalismfund Europe’s general grant rules.

    Becoming Part of the ‘Cohort’

    Being a part of the cohort, an exclusive group of European media outlets, will be a great opportunity to help shape the growth of solutions journalism across the continent and benefit from the latest methods for using this approach to increase reader trust and revenue. 

    If you are selected in the public call, you will automatically be part of the cohort of media outlets and have the opportunity to receive grants for investigative projects. You will:

    • Join monthly online meetings, including workshops on solutions-focused climate reporting, investigative + solutions journalism, and other relevant topics. You will also benefit from hearing about the experiences of other cohort members. 
    • Have the opportunity to apply for up to 40,000 euros per newsroom to produce cross-border stories related to climate change, investigative topics, and more. The first application deadline for cross-border projects for cohort members only is expected in May 2024.
    • Collaborate with newsrooms across Europe on crucial issues facing the continent. 
    • Receive obligatory online mentoring for newsroom journalists and editors during the production of funded stories. 
    • Participate in a Train-the-Trainers (ToT) programme on solutions journalism to ensure knowledge-sharing within media outlets and boost sustainability (each newsroom must nominate a staff member to participate).
    • Be part of the development of resources on reporting climate change with a solutions perspective.

    More Questions?

    Consult our FAQ or contact us.

    Project Updates

    SoJo Europe 1st cohort

  • Fact-checked: journalists and activists against lies and propaganda

    Project Summary: 

    “Fact-checked: journalists and activists against lies and propaganda” is a project of Transitions and the Serbian CRTA Istinomer. The aim of the project is to improve the level of trust in the Serbian information space through activities aimed at debunking disinformation and propaganda, strengthening accountability of public officials and increasing scrutiny of electoral processes. The project seeks to allow citizens to engage with issues of public interest and make better-informed decisions. The action targets journalists and election observers. Project activities include training workshops,online courses production and extensive editorial work. The editorial activity supports the CRTA publication Istinomer,which produces content to debunk falsehoods circulating in Serbia’s information space. Part of the content will be adapted for publication in English in the TOL magazine. The teams of election observers that CRTA has built to bring about greater accountability of the election process will receive training in key aspects of media literacy and fact checking.

    Project activities: 

    1.1.1 Training of journalists (two live online workshops) 

    CRTA plans to recruit up to 15 journalists for two live online fact-checking workshops. Most participants will be selected through an open call, while the rest will come from CRTA’s editorial team. Istinomer will announce the call for applications on its website and promote it via social media, educational institutions, and relevant journalists’ associations.

    1.2.1 Training of journalists (online learning) 

    Following the workshops, participants will engage in online learning activities, including Transitions’ courses on disinformation and other courses by Czech media literacy experts. They will also access resources from First Draft, Bellingcat, and UNESCO on related topics.

    2.1.1 Training of election monitors (online learning) and 2.1.2 Training of election monitors (2 live online workshops) 

    Training for election monitors will align with Serbia’s spring 2024 elections. “Citizens on Watch,” a network of long-term election monitors established by CRTA, will focus on monitoring election administration, law implementation, campaign conduct, and local media. Previously trained in identifying media violations, the network will now receive advanced training in media and information literacy to combat propaganda and disinformation. Monitors will first study online resources from Transitions, First Draft, and Bellingcat, translated into Serbian. Two groups of up to 16 observers will then attend online workshops on fact-checking and media literacy, which will also help prepare for the upcoming election monitoring. This training extends CRTA’s fact-checking efforts beyond Belgrade, promoting information verification and media literacy in local communities.

    3.1.1 Strengthening of CRTA info verification team, with in-house capacity–building provided to team In the previous phases of the project, CRTA selected the most qualified journalists who attended training to join the Istinomer editorial team. 

    Over the past four years, additional team members have significantly boosted Istinomer’s fact-checking content production and audience reach. To maintain credibility and further enhance content reach, Istinomer will implement regular internal capacity-building activities. This includes training newsroom leaders in audience management, innovation, and strategy. Editors and program managers will develop skills to manage large investigations, update editorial standards and ethics policies, and expand newsroom partnerships. Both internal and external experts will be involved in these training activities.

    3.2.1 Team produces weekly content for Istinomer Istinomer’s editorial team will continue to produce content using the skills, tools, and techniques provided through training activities in the previous project period.

    Istinomer journalists will track and evaluate promises and public statements made by politicians, building a comprehensive database to assess accountability. Following the early parliamentary, Belgrade, and local elections in late 2023 and spring 2024, Istinomer will focus on scrutinizing election promises. Their fact-checkers will assess statements from the elections and monitor both traditional and social media for manipulative information. To address news avoidance, especially on social media, Istinomer will create platform-specific content like Instagram carousels, TikToks, X threads, and newsletters, complementing their website analyses. Additionally, the team will produce analyses and investigative reports to counter disinformation, focusing on issues like the war in Ukraine and the Kosovo crisis. Istinomer aims to produce at least 10 pieces of fact-checking content weekly, including a minimum of 6 fact-checks or analyses per funded journalist.

     3.2.2 Team produces monthly content for international audiences 

    Due to ongoing issues such as Serbia’s uncertain relationship with Kosovo, its ties to the Kremlin amid the Ukraine war, and the erosion of democratic standards and the rule of law, Serbia’s prospects of joining the European Union remain doubtful. These concerns interest both domestic and international audiences. To address this, Istinomer’s editorial team will produce a bi-monthly feature on Serbian affairs for international readers. These articles, written in English, will be edited, published, and promoted by TOL.

    4.1.1 Live online lectures and production of standalone learning courses on tackling digital propaganda and disinformation 

    The curated lectures and courses will equip users with knowledge and expertise to tackle modern disinformation challenges, in collaboration with leading Czech experts and organizations. The courses will cover:

    Modern Tools and Methods to Combat Propaganda and Disinformation

    How to Reach Hard-to-Reach Audiences

    Lessons Learned from Election-Related Disinformation Campaigns

    Building Disinformation Resilient Communities – Best Practices Sharing

    Project partner:

    CRTA https://crta.rs/en/

  • The Upward Spiral: Transitions’ first solutions journalism podcast!

    We, at Transitions, are excited to announce the launch of our first podcast series, The Upward Spiral, where we deconstruct solutions journalism and explore the opportunities and challenges when journalists undertake solutions-focused reporting!

    Over the past 10 years, since the US-based Solutions Journalism Network launched its effort to change the way journalism is practiced, many misconceptions have surfaced. Some have assumed SJN and its partners, like us, are just pushing for more “happy news,” more stories of firemen saving kittens in trees and long-separated twins finally finding each other. Others have concluded that solutions journalism is just plain advocacy, that we are promoting, in PR-style, certain solutions over others. In this podcast, we plan to counter those misconceptions and more, but we are not going to do it alone. We will interview practitioners themselves – journalists and editors who have written insightful, moving stories about effective responses to some of society’s most pressing problems. We will talk to them about adopting a different approach to reporting on the world, and the challenges and opportunities that presents. What their personal obstacles were, for example, and whether they faced any friction in their newsrooms and among their colleagues. 

    You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple!

    If you have any questions, comments or interesting topics that you would like us to cover, please contact our solutions journalism programme manager, Meenal Thakur, at meenal.thakur@tol.org.

    If you enjoyed listening to our podcast and would like to know more about our work, follow us here for more solutions journalism-related resources, news, and our latest stories!

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