Nearly €1 million for the development of Montenegrin media
Over the next two years, the EU Delegation to Montenegro will invest close to €1 million in the development of Montenegrin media through the Media Professionalisation Programme. The budget has been earmarked for five selected projects, which will be implemented by a total of 16 media and organisations. The projects are dedicated to the development of investigative journalism in the field of environmental protection, training of journalists, support to the local media, promotion of consumer protection, and the professionalisation of media coverage about minorities.
The Programme for Media Professionalisation is being implemented for the third time since 2017 and, so far, the European Union has invested over €2 million in professionalising the media in Montenegro. The Media Advisor to the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Nadezda Dramicanin, stressed that it is necessary to continue investing in the media in order to become more professional and more independent.
“Our wish is to help develop a professional, independent, transparent, accountable, and financially viable media scene in Montenegro. We want to support journalists and media organisations, especially at the local level, to follow the latest trends of journalism, while contributing to the democratisation of the society and raising the debate on the EU integration process of the country. On the other hand, we also want to support organisations who can educate media consumers and strengthen media literacy in an era when democratic principles are threatened by disinformation and information influence,” said Dramicanin.
The project "Media Hub for Environmental Reporting" will be implemented by the Radio Television Pljevlja as the carrier, while the co-applicants will be the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) and the NGO "Green Home." During the project, they will organise trainings for journalists, who will then prepare TV serials and documentaries on environmental protection. The Centre for Investigative Reporting of Montenegro (CIN), in cooperation with the weekly “Monitor” and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, will implement the project "Investigative Reporting on Environmental Protection, Together with Citizens." The project aims to strengthen the capacity for investigative journalism and increase the citizens' interest in topics under the negotiation Chapters 23, 24, and 27. In addition to research stories, it will also create an online platform where citizens will be able to report on environmental issues locally.
The production company "B Film Montenegro," together with the Centre for Civic Education (CCE), the Institute for Business and Financial Literacy, and the Share Foundation will implement the project "Support to local media; first-hand stories!", within the local media, will have the opportunity to receive small grants of up to €15,000. In addition, local media journalists will have the opportunity to attend digital and financial media literacy training. The project "You are what you consume - more professional stories locally and nationally for better information for citizens" will be implemented by TV Prva, the Centre for Consumer Protection (CEZAP), and Radio Television Cetinje. The aim is to strengthen independent and investigative journalism with a focus on consumer rights, through training for interested journalists, as well as launching a consumer caravan - a public event with citizens.
Galileo Production and the NGOs LGBT Forum Progress, 35mm, 4 LIFE, Roma youth organisation “Walk with Us - Phiren Amenca,” and the Youth with Disabilities Association will implement the project "PRIME - Professional, Responsible, Inclusive, Media." They will focus on developing independent and investigative journalism on EU topics, with a focus on minorities, by organising educational modules and creating a newsroom for inclusive investigative reporting. The project will also host the first media festival on inclusive reporting.
“We are very glad to support these five ambitious grant projects, which will provide investigative journalism training and other education opportunities to journalists. Project activities will also raise awareness amongst citizens on issues important both for local communities and for the EU integration process of the country, support the professionalisation of the media at local level, as well as develop the Montenegrin media production scene. We look forward to the successful implementation of the projects and sustainable effects on the media scene,” Dramicanin pointed out.
You can find the official documentation on the EU Media Professionalisation Programme here.