Thomson Media, in partnership with IWM Network and NarativAI, is launching a call to select 12 local media outlets from North Macedonia to receive free technical assistance, access to professional AI tools and practical solutions to make their day-to-day work easier. The programme is designed to help small newsrooms improve the security of their websites, organize everyday tasks more easily, reach wider audiences and strengthen their sustainability.
What support will media outlets receive?
Unlike conventional training, this programme focuses on direct, practical solutions. This means that experts will not only explain what you need to do, but will also help you directly with setup, configuration and resolving technical problems, so that you can focus on journalism:
- A technical and security review of your website, including direct resolution of urgent technical problems;
- Improvements to make your news easier to find through Google and AI-powered search (SEO/AEO);
- Free 12-month access to professional AI tools, selected according to your newsroom’s needs;
- A practical plan with tools and processes that can help your newsroom save time;
- Individual and group mentoring on growing your audience and finding new ways to generate revenue for your media outlet;
- Online training and an in-person workshop;
- Free, ready-to-use templates for privacy, digital security and media standards, such as a Privacy Policy, an Impressum and digital security rules.
Who can apply?
The call is open to media outlets operating in North Macedonia that produce original journalism for local or regional audiences:
- Local online news portals;
- Independent digital media reporting on specific communities;
- Small local or regional radio and television stations with an online presence;
- Regional media organisations covering specific municipalities or areas with limited local news coverage.
Newsrooms with small teams of one to five members, no dedicated IT or digital development staff, and limited technical and financial resources are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications are also encouraged from women-led media, media publishing in community languages, and media reporting on rural and underserved areas.
Important: Formal legal registration as a company is not a mandatory requirement. Civic media initiatives may also apply, provided they demonstrate that they work in the public interest and uphold journalistic standards.
What is expected of participants?
Selected media outlets should demonstrate editorial independence, adherence to professional and ethical standards, and a willingness to participate actively in the 12-month support process.
Each media outlet will need to:
- Appoint at least one person responsible for communication and coordination;
- Take part in a short initial assessment of the outlet’s website, digital tools and needs;
- Participate in three short online training sessions, one in-person workshop (with travel expenses covered), and periodic short mentoring meetings (approximately once every three months);
- Work with our team to introduce new tools and technical solutions into everyday work;
- Share a brief account of how the tools have helped them during the programme.
How will participants be selected?
Applications will be assessed by a committee of media experts using standardised criteria:
- The need for digital and technological support;
- The team’s readiness and willingness to introduce new approaches to its work;
- The outlet’s importance to the local community;
- Adherence to journalistic standards and the public interest;
- Efforts will be made to ensure regional diversity, with particular attention to media working in rural, underserved or local communities.
How to apply
Complete the application form no later than 16 October 2026 (11:59 pm).
The application asks you to provide:
- Basic information about the media outlet and a contact person;
- Links to your website and main digital channels;
- The area, audience and language or languages you report in;
- The size of your editorial team;
- The main challenges you face;
- A brief explanation of your interest in participating and the improvements you want to achieve;
- Confirmation of your willingness to participate actively.
Free support with full editorial independence
All services under the project are free for selected media outlets. Support is provided through services, tools, training and mentoring, rather than direct cash grants. After the project ends, media outlets will be responsible for the cost of any continued paid subscriptions. In the final phase, participants will receive support in choosing affordable alternatives. Open educational resources (e-courses on the Journalism Now platform and materials on Journalift) will remain freely available afterwards.
For further information and questions, write to: [email protected]
This call has been prepared with the support of the #SustainMedia programme, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The programme is implemented by GIZ and DW Akademie. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of IWM Network and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
