More than fifty participants of the training seminar “Methodology of finding additional sources of funding for regional media”, which was organized and held by the Ukrainian Institute for Advanced Training of Television, Radio Broadcasting and Press Workers (March 21, 2024), received practical step-by-step recommendations, got acquainted with the tactics and strategy of obtaining donor funds for the media.
In his introductory speech to the audience, acting director of the Ukrainian Institute for Advanced Training of Television, Radio Broadcasting and Press Workers (UTRPI), secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, honored journalist of Ukraine, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Glib Golovchenko emphasized the relevance of the topic of the training seminar.
– Most of you faced the need to find additional sources of funding for your media even at the stage of reform, – noted Glib Golovchenko. – After all, only the multiplication of income from different sources can give at least some stability in your work. The challenges faced by the regional media with the beginning of a full-scale war led to the fact that some of them, especially in the front-line territories, were forced to close due to the danger to the lives of workers, some editorial offices were destroyed or looted by the occupiers, deprived of financial income. But, regardless of the complexity of the conditions, you were able to stand up and keep your media.
Glib Golovchenko expressed his hope that the training seminar, which the UTRPI is conducting with the support of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, will help improve the financial situation of media and preserve the information landscape of Ukraine.
Roman Kifluk, National Advisor for International Media Support in Ukraine, in the his presentation laid out detailed recommendations for high-quality preparation of the necessary documentation, according to which potential donors can come to a conclusion about the feasibility of financing the projects offered by the editors. It is about detailed, up-to-date and truthful presentation of information about the media and newsroom, financial audit, compliance with journalistic standards, cooperation with non-governmental public organizations and coalitions. The media trainer provided a list of public organizations, cooperation with which can have a positive effect on the donors’ further assessment of the reliability of potential applicants for grants, outlined a number of markers by which the image of newsrooms is formed.
Lilia Kavetska, head of the press and internet media department of the UTRPI, gave the listeners extremely important information about the availability of grants for regional media and the conditions for obtaining them in her presentation.
The media trainer described the grant opportunities of many organizations that conduct the selection of participants, hold contests, implement educational programs on an almost permanent basis, as well as those that offer grants on a certain topic. Liliya Kavetska presented a number of organizations that are currently accepting applications and the announced amounts of support for applicants.
Of course, such information interested listeners. And the UTRPI will give them presentations.
Lyubov Velychko, who has been an investigative journalist and freelancer for nine years, shared with the audience her useful experience of finding money. Her advice is simple: receive the newsletter of Ukrainian media public organizations in order to be aware of the updated information of grant donors, speak English in order to conduct a conscious search for financial opportunities of a large array of foreign donors, attend foreign online events for journalists, take an active part in them, talk about yourself, show your interest in this or that topic, expertise, ask questions, clarify the specifics of submitting an application for funding. Grantors must be convinced that the searcher is genuinely interested in the topic.
– Your idea should be bright, realistic, in demand. I receive positive responses to eight out of ten of my applications. I always put myself in the place of the buyer. You have to believe in your project! Then you can sell it, that is, get a grant, I am overwhelmed with work for a year in advance. I write one application per month. And you serve three or four at a time, – advised Lyubov Velychko.
– Knock, and it will be opened to you – the moderator of the event, Liliya Kavetska, summarized the recommendations of her colleagues. – Believe, believe, believe!
Good luck to everyone.