SMS Facility provides financial and mentoring support to help small newsrooms deliver meaningful journalism
Local media outlets across Serbia are often the first line of defence for public interest, yet they operate in an increasingly challenging environment. To support their vital work, Thomson Media has awarded grants to five selected media outlets under the “SMS Facility” project, enabling them to produce high-quality content on topics that matter most to their communities.
As part of the regional project SMS Facility – Small Media Support in the Western Balkans, funded by the European Union, Thomson Media (TM) has officially signed contracts with five independent media outlets from Serbia. This initiative is not merely about financial assistance; it is a strategic effort to create a safe, supportive structure for the long-term resilience of small media that are often overlooked by national headlines.
Addressing the “Support Vacuum”
Local media in Serbia face a complex set of pressures. From financial instability and limited staff capacity to legal challenges and exclusion from local public funding. Recognising these structural gaps, the SMS Facility accelerated its grant timeline to provide timely support.
Following a rigorous and transparent public call launched in July 2025, which attracted 21 applications, five projects were selected based on their relevance, innovation, and potential for social impact. The selection process involved independent external assessors to ensure that the most meritorious ideas received support.
Meet the Grantees
The selected media outlets will now embark on producing investigative stories, multimedia features, and analytical reports on critical topics ranging from environmental protection and healthcare to women’s rights and systemic corruption.
The awarded media outlets in Serbia are:
- Vranje News (Vranje)
- WebInfo (Novi Bečej)
- Panpress (Pančevo)
- JUGpress (Leskovac)
- Átlátszó Vajdaság (Subotica)
More Than Just Funding
For the beneficiaries, this support is a lifeline that allows them to remain professional and independent.
“As a media outlet that adheres to the Code of Journalists and the public interest, we are almost completely excluded from local and state co-financing in 2025,” explains Dejan Dimić, Editor-in-Chief of Vranje News. “That is why any new grant contributing to our survival means so much to us. It allows us to address sensitive areas, such as violence against women and girls, which is of primary interest to our local community.”
Ljiljana Stojanović from JUGpress echoes this sentiment, highlighting the severe financial pressures independent media face: “Despite all problems, threats, and pressures, we continue to work. This support means a lot to us because we can continue to deal with very serious topics, such as how local budget money is spent on the needs of people with disabilities.”
The grants also empower media to tackle underreported social issues. Zoran Đurić from WebInfo notes that the project will help them “dispel common myths and point out the importance of organ donation,” while Ivana Predić from Panpress emphasises the value of long-term relevance: “This grant gives us the opportunity to tell quality stories about women activists that are rarely heard… producing content that remains relevant longer than daily news.”
A Regional Effort for Local Impact
In addition to financial support of up to €7,000 per grant, the SMS Facility includes a robust capacity-building component. Awardees will have access to expert mentoring in Internal Governance and High-Quality Content Production, as well as regional networking opportunities. This comprehensive approach aims to help small media outlets not only survive but thrive by improving their multimedia production, engaging their audiences, and building sustainable business models.
About the Project
The SMS Facility – Small Media Support in Western Balkans is implemented in six countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) by a consortium of six media support organisations. The project is led by the Center for the Promotion of Civil Society from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with Thomson Media (Germany), SCiDEV (Albania), Kosovo Glocal (Kosovo), Center for Democratic Transition (Montenegro), and Metamorphosis Foundation (North Macedonia). The project is funded by the European Union.
