Eurasia Media Innovation Challenge

We are directly inspired to do something useful for our region. Now is the right time. 

– 2017 Eurasia Media Innovation Challenge entrant (Kyrgyzstan)

The Eurasia Media Innovation Challenge supports creative ways to produce and distribute high-quality content, leading to a better-informed public.

The countries neighboring Russia face the growing trends of state- and oligarch-controlled media, misinformation and propaganda. Eurasian audiences increasingly encounter biased or false information. At the same time, Eurasian countries face complex challenges, such as financial woes, global health issues and the threat of radicalized groups. High-quality, objective news coverage is essential so that people have the information they need to make better decisions, strive for better lives and hold the powerful to account.

This program offers grants of between US$5,000 and US$100,000 to applicants proposing innovative and entertaining projects to provide quality news and information to Russian-speaking populations in Eurasia. Proposals have included factual entertainment series, youth-focused content that utilizes new technologies, satire, cultural programs, mobile apps, games, documentaries and radio programs. Selected applicants receive the funds needed to cover the costs of their projects as well as expert mentoring and technical assistance to support their projects’ development.

About the Program

The contest is open to content producers interested in reaching Russian-speaking audiences in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Only Russian-language projects are considered. 

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Media Diversity Institute (MDI) with selected regional partners and experts help talented local individuals, media organizations, civil society representatives and others develop new ways to inform and engage audiences with entertaining, locally relevant, high-quality content.

Applications for this program are now closed. 

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