CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Rural Media Support Programme

Are you an independent media outlet based in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, or South Punjab? We invite you to apply for a unique two-year programme designed to strengthen your internal capacities, enhance your content production, and foster joint advocacy and collaboration with fellow rural media outlets. 

Programme Benefits

By participating in this programme, media outlets will be able to:

1. Strengthen their internal capacities in order to operate in a safer, more inclusive, and resilient manner
2. Elevate their content production skills and amplify the representation of rural voices in media
3. Connect with fellow independent rural media outlets for cross-regional learning and advocacy

Programme Structure

The programme will run from October 2024 to October 2026 and will include the following components:

1. Coaching Sessions

Throughout the programme, selected media outlets will participate in a series of coaching sessions designed to strengthen their internal capacities in the following areas:

• Gender and inclusion
• (Digital) safety
• Internal governance and organizational procedures
• Audience engagement
• Alternative production models and SWOT analyses

The coaching sessions, led by a team of experts, will be tailored to meet the specific needs of each outlet. These sessions will be conducted in a hybrid format, blending online and on-site interactions. During one-on-one sessions, participants will have the opportunity to regularly assess their progress toward predefined goals, review assignment outcomes, and seek guidance from the expert team.

2. Fellowships

Selected media outlets and their respective pools of (freelance) journalists will also participate in four rounds of six-month fellowships designed to enhance content production skills and amplify rural voices in Pakistani media.

Media outlets will elevate their content production skills through a series of workshops facilitated by experts. These will focus on the following topics:

• Digital storytelling, audience engagement, and alternative production/business models, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Ethical journalism, fact-checking, and pre/debunking mis/disinformation
• Inclusive reporting

Additionally, fellowship participants will receive expert support in producing content that amplifies the voices of rural communities, women, and marginalized groups in Pakistan, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse media landscape.

3. Advocacy

Selected media outlets will also have the opportunity to engage, exchange, and connect with fellow rural media outlets through the creation of a dedicated network. As part of this initiative, three coalition-building workshops will be organized to foster collaboration and stimulate joint advocacy on the following thematic challenges: 

• Press freedom and journalists’ physical safety 
• Gender, diversity, and inclusion in the media sector
• The influence of emerging technologies on media
• Financial sustainability

During these coalition-building workshops, the selected outlets will set specific goals for each thematic challenge and develop action plans to achieve them over the course of the programme. 

Application Procedure

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from media outlets that meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• Located in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh or South Punjab
• Operational for at least 1 year
• Financially and editorially independent 
• Committed to gender equality and inclusion
• Actively engaged in public interest journalism
• Able to prove reasonable capacity, recent activity, and on-the ground presence

How to apply

1. Download the Application Form in your preferred language:

• Application Form in English
• Application Form in Urdu 

1. Please fill out all sections of the Application Form, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and up to date.
2. Once completed, send your application by email to ruralmediasupport@protonmail.com, using the following subject line: “Application for Rural Media Support Programme – [Name of your outlet and province]”.

Please note that you must only submit one Application Form, either in English or Urdu, and that applications submitted using different templates or formats shall not be accepted. 

The deadline for submission is September 15th, 2024. Please note that only complete applications sent within the deadline will be taken into consideration.

Selection procedure

Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee based on the following selection criteria:

1. Financial and editorial independence
2. Shown commitment to gender mainstreaming and inclusion
3. Active engagement in public interest journalism
4. Commitment to an intensive two-year programme
5. Potential for growth
6. Engaged audience

The Selection Committee will conduct a thorough review of all submitted applications and compile a shortlist of media outlets considered most suitable for the programme, based on the information provided in the Application Form. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in an interview as part of the final selection process. 

Applicants will be notified about the final status of their application maximum 1 month after the closure of the call for applications.

Financial Support

Please note that transport and accommodation costs of participants throughout the duration of the programme will be covered by the organizers.

For any queries or further information, please contact ruralmediasupport@protonmail.com