Syndication

• 
  A Reflective Journey Through Solutions Journalism and Mentorship9. 4. 2024

  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.

• 
  Do-Jo Project: the Integrated Collaborative donation solution for Journalism8. 3. 2024

  Eight European media organizations launched Do-Jo, 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 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 Do-Jo 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, Do-Jo 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 Do-Jo 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, Do-Jo 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 Do-Jo 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 Do-Jo 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 café 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.

  Do-Jo Press Release

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  An online session to learn about climate-solutions reporting and our grant program7. 3. 2024

  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!

• 
  PluPro Project: Multifaceted Support for European Cross-border Investigative JournalismPluPro Project16. 2. 2024

  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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  • More info: www.journalismfund.eu
  • Contact: Ides Debruyne (managing director), plupro@journalismfund.eu

  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.

  • More info: transitionsmedia.org
  • Contact: Jeremy Druker (executive director), Jeremy.druker@tol.org

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

• 
  Constructive News: Fostering Solutions Journalism Across Europe.2. 2. 2024

  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.

  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.

• 
  The Upward Spiral: Transitions’ first solutions journalism podcast!22. 11. 2023

  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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  Transitions celebrates 10 years of Solutions Journalism!13. 10. 2023

  Our dear friends and partners at the Solutions Journalism Network turn 10 this October! We celebrated their 10th anniversary in Prague together with our SJ partner newsrooms from across Central and Eastern Europe and SJ practitioners, educators and supporters from the Czech Republic! We were also joined online by Tina Rosenberg and David Bornstein, co-founders of SJN, who dialled in from New York to share SJN’s growth story and celebrate this big day with us. Check more photos here or watch our video. #SolutionsJournalismDay

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  Join us in celebrating 10 years of solutions journalism!20. 9. 2023

  Our dear friends and partners at the Solutions Journalism Network mark their 10th anniversary this October! What a great reason to celebrate!

  It all started back in October 2013 with the collaboration of the SJN and the Seattle Times to create Education Lab. Ten years later, so much has changed!  (Not Ed Lab, though. It’s still going strong at the Seattle Times!) Solutions journalism became international, and we are honored that we at Transitions have been part of the effort to bring it to Central & Eastern Europe and beyond. 

  So, let’s party (if you are in Prague or nearby)!

  When: Friday, 13 October 2023, 17:30 – 19:30

  Where: Villa Grébovka, Havlíčkovy sady 58, 120 00 Prague 2

  17:30 Meet & Greet 

  17:45 Welcome remarks from Jeremy Druker, Transitions executive director

  18:00 Tina Rosenberg & David Bornstein  

  18:30 End of the official part: Party Time!

  19:30 Conclusion of the event

  If you have questions, please contact Lucie Černá, Transitions

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  Apolitical Foundation’s Possibility of Politics List13. 9. 2023

  We are proud to announce that Transitions’ Knowledge Center for Solutions Journalism has been honored by the Apolitical Foundation in their list alongside 50 individual journalists from around the world writing about the potential of politics to address today’s biggest issues and shape a better future!

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  SoJo Newsroom Cohort Produces First Results28. 8. 2023

  Transitions has now proudly expanded its solutions journalism work beyond supporting freelancers and staff journalists to newsrooms! Last year we launched our very first solutions journalism cohort of newsrooms with five newsrooms, including a Ukraine-based solutions media outlet, Rubryka; the Slovak daily Dennik N; the Bosnian news outlet, e-Trafika; the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT; and the Czech monthly magazine Reporter. Thanks to a generous donor, Transitions was then able to hand out subgrants to the newsrooms for them to work on solutions-oriented projects. 

  Even before our cooperation started, LRT had integrated the solutions journalism format into virtually all its output – television, radio, and digital. In this case, the newsroom formed a team specifically for the solutions journalism project “LRT looking for solutions.” Starting with a story on how Lithuania wants to abolish children’s homes, the team reported cross-border solutions stories from Finland and Estonia on the transition from institutional to family- and community-based services for children who have been left without parental care. Also check out their TV report and radio discussion on the topic (in Lithuanian). 

  Rubryka’s solutions stories on Ukrainian farmers overcoming war challenges  and subways as a concert venue explain local solutions to a foreign audience in the context of the everyday Ukrainian reality of living in a war-torn country.

  Dennik N took to education, exploring how Slovakia – which suffers from an acute shortage of kindergartens and primary schools – can successfully build more schools in their story: What should a modern school look like that will prepare children for life in 2035. You can find an English-language translation that Transitions published here. 

  Primary and secondary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not free, even though it is presented as such. Students do not have to pay school fees, but they do have to pay for overpriced books, transportation to school, snacks, school trips, and other things that significantly burden the household budget. In its three-part project, eTrafika highlights local responses to tackle this problem in the cities of Brčko, where Free Transportation is a big relief for families; Banja Luka, where meals are being provided for poor students; and Sarajevo where students are being provided free textbooks.

  Inclusive education was a big theme among the cohort, as evident also by the story from our Czech partner, Reporter. Their story followed a little boy called Vasek – who has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome – and talked about the state of inclusion in the Czech educational system.  A Second Year with Vasek. A report about how we can (not) take care of different children highlights the experience of Vasek and how we can make our education system more inclusive.

  Big applause to these newsrooms for bringing these issues – and solutions – to light and not just settling for describing the problem!

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  International Call for Pitches5. 7. 2023

  Transitions is announcing a call for microgrants for journalists interested in developing solutions stories. In addition to financial support, we are also offering mentoring during the entire production of the article to achieve the highest possible quality. The stipends start at 250 euros, but may be more depending on the length and type of story. The grants are for stories from Central and Eastern Europe.

  Story pitches must be submitted in English and you are supposed to prepare the article in English for an international audience. But don’t worry, your English doesn’t have to be perfect. We will provide you with an English speaking editor and also, if necessary, we can arrange mentoring in your native language. The stories will be published in Transitions Magazine. However, you are also free to publish the article in your own publication in your native language.

  What is Solutions Journalism and why is it important?

  Solutions Journalism is rigorous reporting about existing responses to society’s problems. It not only spotlights problems but also follows an evidence-based analysis of existing solutions. Such reporting enhances knowledge and accountability by providing the whole story to readers and offers constructive content in an age of media apathy.

  Read more about what solutions journalism is (and what it isn’t) and find some inspiring stories reported by our grantees at the Transitions Knowledge Center for Solutions Journalism.

  Before you submit your pitch…

  We strongly recommend taking the free course Solutions Journalism: Reporting on Effective Responses to Society’s Problems to be sure you understand the basics of this approach. In our experience, those who have already taken the course or reviewed related resources are much more likely to receive funding.

  Examples of solutions stories can be found here.

  Basic criteria for pitching a solutions story

  Your pitch should…

  • Demonstrate high-quality journalism (rigorous reporting)
  • Describe an existing response to a social problem and how it works in detail (it does not present theories and claims of “should be”)
  • Show evidence of the impact of the solution (not just good intentions)

  What we will consider when evaluating your pitch

  • Does it focus on a concrete solution?
  • Does the solution have clearly defined objectives and the activities leading to their achievement?
  • What is the social importance of the topic and its contribution to public debate?
  • What is the professional credibility of the author/editorial staff and the individuals involved in the pitch?

  Application and what happens next

  If you want to apply, please fill in the APPLICATION FORM.

  Pitches must be submitted in English (don’t worry it doesn’t have to be perfect English!). We will be accepting pitches on a running basis.

  The grant recipients will have six weeks to publish their work.

  After publishing the story, the grantee is required to submit a report of a minimum of 4,000 characters on his/her practical experience with the use of solutions journalism and to agree that Transitions and/or the Solutions Journalism Network may use all or parts of the final report for promotional or training purposes.

  If you have questions, please contact Jeremy Druker: jeremy.druker@tol.org or Meenal Thakur: meenal.thakur@tol.org

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  Solutions Journalism at the United Nations16. 6. 2023

  On Wednesday June 7th, Jeremy Druker, Transitions Executive Director and Editor in Chief, travelled to Vienna, Austria on invitation from the United Nations communications office to explore how solutions journalism can help improve global messaging. Working with both UN communicators and journalism students from across Central Eastern Europe, he discussed ways the UN can implement effective solutions strategies for audiences across the world. Discussion on impact was shared as the communicators and students conveyed personal experiences in their home countries. After the conference, the UN expressed their gratitude for such workshops and weren’t surprised by its positive outcome. At Transitions we strive for solutions journalism to reach a broader audience, and know this has been a large step towards that. If you, like the United Nations, are interested in learning more about solutions journalism or would like to attend a workshop, visit https://transitionsmedia.org/

  #solutionsjournalism

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  Transitions & Google Boost Senior Media Literacy in Czechia & Slovakia14. 6. 2023

  We’re thrilled to announce a new collaboration between Transitions and Google in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This joint venture will further bolster our pioneering media literacy program for seniors and the elderly, a critical initiative to empower this demographic in the digital age.

  The program has already made significant strides. Now, with Google’s partnership, we look forward to reaching new heights, extending our reach to local regions, developing fresh learning resources, and engaging new trainers to widen our impact. 

  We’re pleased to collaborate with our esteemed project partners Elpida in the Czech Republic and MEMO98 in Slovakia. These partnerships not only strengthen our collective efforts to improve media literacy but also provide a solid base to expand our innovative programs.

  We believe that media literacy is a critical skill in today’s interconnected world, and we’re excited to bring this to even more seniors and elderly in the coming months.

  For more information about our activities, please visit medialka.elpida.cz. You’ll find details on our projects, resources, and how you can get involved. Should you require further details or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Please contact Jaroslav Valůch at jaroslav.valuch@tol.org.

  

  Discover Our Media Literacy Project for Seniors

  Transitions organized events for further community development around media education projects for seniors. The main activity was Barcamp, which took place on 19-20 October 2023 in Prague. Over 30 participants from 20 organizations and institutions actively participated in the two-day program, which was a mix of panel debates, workshops, and joint development of methodologies. In the Czech Republic, we prepared an unprecedented package of educational materials, which was accompanied by a campaign video. The entire concept is based on the proven “5 key questions “methodology. The five instructional videos also feature five interactive online courses, complete with additional manuals and recommendations. Landingpage offers a fun quiz, and videos and then leads to the new e-learning portal of our partner the Elpida organization. Please feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested. It was only thanks to the support of Google that we were able to create such a comprehensive concept of interrelated interactive materials after years. In Slovakia our project partner MEMO98 is working with a group of students who were identified in recent months and are educating them. We also cooperate with members of Demagog.sk (MEMO98 in cooperation with demagog.sk connects experiences from various fields and strengthens the capacities of lecturers in the field of fact verification), and a new segment of the project is cooperation with libraries and librarians. We organized one training course for lecturers as planned. It was held on 7.12.2023 with the participation of 9 individuals. The main lectures were Jaroslav Valůch, head of the Czech program, and Marek Mračka from the partner organization MEMO98. It was a key event that helped to redefine the Slovak approach, also with regard to the changing political and social context in the country.

  Senior Bratislava BARCAMP – January 25-26, 2024

  Engaging Seniors in the Fight Against Misinformation: How Verification Workshops Transform Media Literacy

  In collaboration with Český rozhlas, we launched a series of Verification Workshops across Ostrava, Olomouc, and České Budějovice, building on a pilot form last year in Prague. This year, with support from Google, the initiative sought to equip individuals, especially seniors, with essential skills to identify and fight disinformation. The workshops engaged seniors in practical scenarios, guiding them through the process of fact-checking current news, for example, deceptive health product ads or verifying the authenticity of videos showing alleged violence in various European cities.

  Under the expertise of the “Ověřovna” team from iRozhlas.cz, participants employed investigative methods to peel back layers of misinformation. Whether dissecting false endorsements by renowned journalists or conducting OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) to authenticate videos, the workshops covered a broad spectrum of misinformation, showcasing the problem’s complexity.

  The initiative, in partnership with the non-profit organisation Elpida, aimed to enhance media literacy among older adults. Beyond the hands-on sessions, a monthly verification club continues to provide challenges and learning opportunities, helping participants refine their fact-checking abilities.

  Feedback from the workshops has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the significant impact of these sessions on improving the ability of the public to navigate a complex information landscape. By involving seniors in these critical exercises, the initiative highlights the vital role of education and cooperation in creating a more informed society.

  As the information verified by the seniors was often hot off the press, it sometimes emerged that these stories had yet to be checked by others. ČRo’s “Ověřovna” will continue to publish verified information, in the coming days, contributing further to the fight against disinformation

  

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