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New Validation Booster FAQ: What applicants need to know

Applicants interested in the Media Innovation Europe 3.0 Validation Booster call can now consult a new FAQ document addressing practical questions raised during the programme’s information session. The Validation Booster call is currently open to journalists, media organisations, content creators, media initiatives and media technology developers seeking support to test and validate new ideas for the media sector. The application deadline is 2 September 2026 at 23:59

Elevate your journalism skills with free courses from Journalism Now

Unlock essential knowledge and certification in Western Balkan languages through expert-led training programmes Constant education is vital for journalists to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving media landscape, ensuring they remain knowledgeable, ethical, and adaptable to new technologies and industry standards. Journalism Now by Thomson Foundation is your go-to educational platform for developing essential journalism skills. The platform offers interactive and practical content, making

From assumptions to evidence: How to validate media ideas

A step-by-step guide to defining, testing, and refining hypotheses for smarter media innovation Every successful media project starts with a fundamental question: Will this work? Whether you’re launching a new publication, testing an innovative content format, or introducing a digital tool, the key to success lies in understanding whether your idea resonates with your audience. That’s where the process of validation comes into play.

Pitch like a publisher: How to align your media idea with donor and investor logic

How the Validation Booster programme equips media projects to align their pitch with both mission and market logic After mentoring two cohorts of early-stage media projects through the Validation Booster programme, one thing is clear: Most pitches don’t fail because the idea is weak; they fail because the story is misaligned. In a landscape where media ventures seek support from both donors and investors,

Empowering Western Balkans’ Local Media: Apply Now for Small Grants to Produce Quality Journalism

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

From mission to model: How Euromaidan Press found its sustainability model

What happens when mission meets market? For Euromaidan Press, the answer was a bold strategic pivot. Euromaidan Press is an independent online media outlet launched by Ukrainian volunteers in 2014. What started as a grassroots initiative now focuses on reporting Ukrainian news to a global, English-speaking audience. Using solid journalism, the outlet clearly explains complex events in a complicated geopolitical region. This small independent

Brick by Brick: Reinventing news with stop-motion storytelling

How MStudio validated a LEGO-based animation concept for journalism—and what it revealed about innovation, audiences, and the future of media in the Balkans MStudio is a creative studio concept developed by Mahir Sijamija, an experienced journalist and artist, designed to produce stop-motion animation content tailored for media outlets. The studio uses LEGO bricks as a medium to create visually engaging storytelling formats for news, investigative

Vanishing voices: The rise of Media Deserts in the Balkans

As local journalism fades across small towns and villages, a growing silence threatens democracy, accountability, and the right to be informed Media deserts remain an under-researched phenomenon in the Balkan media context, but the reality on the ground shows that the region is far from immune to this growing issue. Imagine that you are somewhere on a beach in the Balkans. The sun is

From passion project to paywall: Coaching a Newsletter into a business

How Romanian journalist Ioana Epure pivoted her expat-focused newsletter in Greece with the help of the Validation Booster programme Back in my teens on the tennis team, we used to coach each other when it wasn’t our turn to play. Besides spotting the opponent’s weak spots, a solid understanding of my teammate’s mindset and condition on match day was essential. Was she confident enough

Make your stories stand out: Discover four free tools for visual and interactive journalism

From Canva to Flourish, discover four free, AI-powered tools that make visual and interactive storytelling easier Telling a great story today isn’t enough. Journalists need to present their work in ways that grab attention and hold it. This article explores four AI-powered tools that make creating visuals and interactive stories easier and more accessible, especially for small teams and freelancers working with limited resources.

Apply Now: Open call for external assessors for Small Media Support grants

The SMS Facility – Small Media Support project in the Western Balkans is launching a Public Call for External Assessors to assess applications submitted under the Call for Small Grants for Media Content Production. The call is open to all interested candidates who meet the following criteria: Engagement period: Application deadline: 18 August 2025, by 5 PM  This call is part of the SMS

Young Journalist Award 2025 is open for entries

Global competition invites under-30 reporters from low and middle-income countries to showcase impactful journalism Are You the Next Young Journalist of the Year? Applications are now open for the 2025 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award, a prestigious global competition that recognises emerging talent in journalism. If you’re 30 or under and working in a country with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of
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