2nd Media Innovation Lab “Innovation in Digital Content Formats”

Deadline  27 September 2019
Open to: individual or a media outlet or a NGO registered in BiH, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo
Benefits: seed funding of USD up to  5,000

Description

Are you a young professional or a team looking for some innovative approaches to the challenges you face in your day-to-day work?

Are you a web developer who enjoys playing with online gadgets

to keep people aware and informed?

Are you passionate about finding ways to bridge media and technology?

USAID’s BMAP, implemented by Internews, is releasing an open call for applications for participation in the second Media Innovation Lab, slated to take place on October 31 – November 3, 2019 in Skopje, North Macedonia. The Media Innovation Lab is an annual event that offers a creative, collaborative space where media professionals, designers, technologists, and others can come together to develop localized tools and projects that will help tackle challenges facing digital media across the Balkan region. This year’s Innovation Lab theme will be: Innovation in Digital Content Formats.

The Lab will strive to spark cross-sectoral thinking and provide an opportunity for participants to form face-to-face connections with professionals they wouldn’t normally have an opportunity to meet. Lab participants will work together to design fresh ways to report, present, distribute, and share stories in the digital world.

Eligibility

Teams of individuals, freelancers, and professionals who are passionate about media, such as journalists, editors, NGO representatives, IT developers, and designers are encouraged to apply with innovative ideas.

  • You can apply as an individual or as a part of a team of no more than five people. It doesn’t matter if you have worked together before or you have just met, but we encourage groups to reflect a diverse set of skills and interests (ex. media professionals, designers, technologists).
  • If you are an individual with an idea, we encourage you to apply! You don’t have to have everything sorted out – we can provide assistance and guidance in finding experts as potential team members
  • They are looking for individuals and teams that bridge nationalities, specialties, and sectors: USAID’s BMAP actively encourages partnerships across borders of all kinds.
  • Also think about potential partnerships with non-media people (e.g., private businesses, NGOs, social influencers, digital rights activists). Is there someone who would bring added value to your team? Who would that be? Let us know, or let us help you think of someone!
  • Groups applying to participate as a team need to be gender-balanced (at least 50% women).

The formal applicant should be an individual or a media outlet or a NGO registered in BiH, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo, but individual team members don’t have to be employees of these organizations and outlets. Be as diverse as you would like!

Benefits

During the four days of the Lab, five selected applicants will have the opportunity to work intensively on developing their ideas for innovative projects related to the Lab theme with the guidance of top-notch regional mentors. The Lab will include one day of master classes and workshops that will provide different perspectives, teach new skills, and inspire participants to tackle new challenges! On the last day, participants will present their projects to a jury for a chance to receive seed funding of USD up to  5,000 to further develop their prototypes and concepts after the event into full-fledged tools and formats that can be rolled out for use by media across the region. Three projects will receive seed funding. All documents, materials, and master classes will be in English, the working language of the Lab.

How to apply?

All questions and applications should be submitted to: Balkans-BMAP-Grants@INTERNEWS.ORG

For more information, please visit the official web page.