2023 Media Professionalization Assistance Program

Description

The U.S. Embassy in Montenegro, acting through the Public Affairs Section, is pleased to announce an open competition for assistance awards, subject to the availability of funds, through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Media Professionalization Assistance Program. The Embassy plans to support specific projects and initiatives that facilitate the development of media freedom and journalistic professional standards in Montenegro through grant awards ranging from $30,000 – $70,000. Grants will be awarded to media or civil society/non-governmental organizations registered in Montenegro that adhere to high professional standards in their reporting and/or activities and have a record of trustworthiness and success. Proposals will be evaluated according to the ability of the applying organization to carry out a project with clearly formulated goals that benefits the intended beneficiaries and has the greatest positive impact. Project proposals should address the following priority areas: 1. Support for the practice of high-quality, professional journalism through projects designed to support independent and fact-based journalism, as well as through initiatives involving practicing journalists and students aspiring to a career in media. 2. Support for media literacy and critical thinking through projects designed to help citizens of all ages recognize, analyze, and ultimately reject disinformation. 3. Support for investigative journalism through projects that support Montenegro’s continued Euro-Atlantic integration. Areas of focus include (but are not limited to) the following topics: a. The rule of law (e.g., corruption, organized crime, etc.) b. Environmental protection c. The strengthening of democratic institutions d. Human and minority rights (e.g. ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+, etc.) e. Gender equality Applicants should clearly define project goals that advance one or more of the priority areas, as well as define tangible outcomes that can be measured after the project’s completion. All application materials must be submitted by email to PodgoricaGrants@state.gov by 17:00 local time on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Please send all supporting documents via email attachments or in a zipped folder (RAR files/zipped folders won’t be accepted). Do not send application materials via WeTransfer links or Dropbox. Upon submission, if you haven’t received an automatic reply that your application has been received within a few hours after emailing the application package, please request a confirmation of the receipt of your application in a follow-up email. Please email any questions about this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to PodgoricaGrants@state.gov. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received. Please find more information about this funding opportunity on the link below.

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