Strengthen your newsroom with funding to create investigative, multimedia, and community-driven content
Are you a small media outlet in the Western Balkans that is passionate about producing high-quality, independent journalism? The SMS Facility project invites applications for its small grants for media content production scheme, offering financial support of up to 7,000 EUR per outlet.
The financial support provided through this public call aims to enhance the overall quality and professionalism of media content production in local and small media outlets across the Western Balkans. It aims to promote investigative and in-depth journalism that addresses critical local and regional issues, while also encouraging the creation of multimedia content, such as videos, podcasts, and digital storytelling, to enhance audience engagement.
A key focus is on promoting diversity and inclusivity in media reporting, with a particular emphasis on gender-sensitive and minority-focused content. Ultimately, the initiative supports fact-based, ethical journalism as a powerful tool to counter disinformation and media manipulation.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be based within one of the eligible countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia), preferably outside of large urban centers.
- Be legally registered as a small media company or CSO owning a media outlet
- Have had less than 50,000 EUR turnover and fewer than seven employees in 2024;
- Be registered by December 31, 2023;
- Have a publicly available Impressum;
- To register on the Journalift community platform and complete MOVAT self-assessment questionnaire.
Successful applicants will:
- Receive up to 7,000 EUR to fund media content production or enhance audience engagement strategies;
- Join a community dedicated to promoting fact-based, ethical journalism
- Contribute to a stronger and more diverse media landscape in the region.
The grant will cover up to 100% of the eligible project costs, meaning that applicants are not required to provide any co-funding.
How to apply?
Applicants must submit the completed Project Proposal Form, Budget, and supporting documentation via email (see more in the full call guidelines below).
All documents must be sent in PDF format.
Applications sent by other means will not be considered.
Full call guidelines and application templates for each eligible country are available at the links below:
The deadline for submitting applications is August 15, 2025 by 12 PM CET.
This call is part of the SMS Facility – Support for Small Media in the Western Balkans, a three-year regional initiative led by the Center for the Promotion of Civil Society (CPCD) in partnership with Thomson Media, Kosovo 2.0, Center for Democratic Transition, Metamorphosis Foundation, and SCiDEV Center. Funded by the European Union with a budget of €1.3 million, the project aims to strengthen media freedom and freedom of expression, contributing to a more resilient and independent media landscape across the Western Balkans.
