SIM PROJECT
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Media Literacy Grants
Internews’ Strengthening Independent Media (SIM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project is seeking project
proposals aimed at support and development of Media Literacy in BiH. Media literacy is the capacity of
individual citizens to access, analyze and evaluate the power of images, sounds and messages as products
of media - television, film, radio and recorded music, print, online and any other digital communication
technology. Media literacy is also the set of operative skills needed to properly use new media
technologies. On an individual level, the skills of media literacy are those of critical thinking, problem
solving, personal autonomy and social and communicative skills, which are the skills crucial for
development of an active and participatory citizenry. At the basic level – media literacy means that
citizens are able to identify and utilize news and information that is fact-based, objective, and needed.
Eligible to apply for these small grants are: NGOs, formal and informal media education institutions, as
well as informal groups of media educators; and media outlets, with the project proposals in line with the
criteria below.
Successful projects will focus on working toward one or more of the following objectives to:
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Develop/improve the skills of BiH citizens to access, analyze and evaluate the content of
media outlets;
Develop/promote media education (formal or informal) in order to support an increased level
of participatory citizenship in BiH;
Make available to the public and to media outlets in BiH more media literacy research and
resources through publication or production.
GRANT SIZE
No grant is to exceed $10,000.
Grant Criteria
1. Media Literacy Initiative
The project demonstrates that it will help to improve media literacy skills of the targeted
audience – to improve the skills of BiH citizens to access, analyze and evaluate media content
through education, applied research and advocacy activities on and off line; to increase the level
of participatory citizenship. (maximum score: 7 points)
2. Understanding of major Media Literacy and journalism concepts
All projects must demonstrate understanding and awareness of major media literacy concepts
and understanding of the standards of journalism in order to propose projects which may educate
citizens to critically evaluate journalism practices. Media literacy knowledge and skills mainly
relate to four key facets of the mass media phenomenon: (1) media industries, (2) media
messages, (3) media audiences, and (4) media effects (maximum score: 7 points)
3. Capacity and Project Sustainability
Applicants must demonstrate capacity and provide sustainability ideas and plans. (maximum
score: 6 points- 4 for capacity and 2 for sustainability)
4. Project impact
What do you expect to achieve in society with your project? How will you measure your
progress and achievements? (maximum score: 5 points)
5. Clear and transparent budget
Project budgets must use the attached template, be transparent and describe major expense
categories that show clear cost effectiveness and suggested cost share of at least 15 percent.
[Cost share: the resources you contribute to the project: from another non-USG source (such as
EU money), or in-kind, such as equipment, production, and/or labor costs that you donate to
implement the project.]
Submission and Review Procedure
Applicants are invited to submit a project proposal + budget and budget narrative. Please see
application form below.
All proposals must be submitted in English.
Proposals should be sent via email to: internewsBH@internews.org ;
vibrahimbegovic@internews.org.
Subject line in email must contain: Application for Media Literacy Grants.
Proposals will be reviewed by a Grant Selection Committee and scored. Only projects which
score points in every category with a minimum total score of 13 out of 25 points will be
considered further. If these criteria are not met, the project will not be considered.
 Internews may contact your organization if questions arise during the scoring/selection
process.
 Internews will contact your organization with the results of your application within 15
days after application is received.
 Internews may contact you for an interview.
PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE
CONSIDERED.
Internews in BiH team
internewsbh@internews.org
www.internews.ba
033 263 710
Hamdije Kresevljakovica 50
71000 Sarajevo