13/02/2012

Georgian Media Partnership Program Announces Winners for 2012

The U.S. Embassy in Georgia together with IREX is pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Georgian Media Partnership Program (GMPP): Channel 9 in Akhaltsikhe and Guria TV in Ozurgeti. GMPP is a two-year, [...]]]> Press Release

13/02/2012

Georgian Media Partnership Program Announces Winners for 2012

The U.S. Embassy in Georgia together with IREX is pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Georgian Media Partnership Program (GMPP): Channel 9 in Akhaltsikhe and Guria TV in Ozurgeti. GMPP is a two-year, $500,000 U.S. government program that supports the professional development of Georgian television professionals.

These TV stations will be partnered with U.S. broadcasters to form strong, collegial and lasting professional relationships via exchanges, individual consultations and the sharing of best practices.  Representatives from Channel 9 and Guria TV will visit their U.S. partner TV stations for intensive hands-on consultations. Professionals from the U.S. TV partner outlets will also travel to Georgia to conduct trainings and on-site consultations. In addition, virtual consultations will further assist the needs of the Georgian broadcasters to strengthen them as businesses and as sustainable news organizations.

Last year’s partnership program participants, Channel 25 and Gurjaani TV, have already established successful relationships with the U.S. TV stations. They learned how the TV stations operate in the United States and increased their knowledge in management, finances, budgeting, sale, new media, production and other fields. New skills and techniques acquired during the partnership visits were adopted in both TV stations that improved overall operations of the outlets.

The Georgian Media Partnership Program, funded by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy and implemented by IREX, aims to promote freedom and independence of the media through support for the professional growth of Georgian regional TV stations. GMPP held a nationwide contest in December 2011 to select two new Georgian regional broadcasters for participation in the 2012 partnership program. Channel 9 and Guria TV won the intensive competition.

Published on January 12, 2012

DOWNLOAD the Grant Application – Media Literacy Eng

Download Budget Template Eng/Geo

IREX is conducting a grants competition for its Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed Citizenry and Accountability (G-MEDIA) Program, which is [...]]]> Contest for grants for media outlets to improve media literacy among youth

Published on January 12, 2012

DOWNLOAD the Grant Application – Media Literacy Eng

Download Budget Template Eng/Geo

IREX is conducting a grants competition for its Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed Citizenry and Accountability (G-MEDIA) Program, which is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to improve media literacy among youth at high school level. IREX has a limited pool of funds for small grants to support Georgian media outlets willing to engage with high school students by running workshops on the basics of journalism and media production.

G-MEDIA invites media outlets, which:

• Provide quality information to their audiences through one or more platforms
• Demonstrate interest in youth and youth issues
• Use social media tools for reaching wider audiences, including youth groups
• Use innovative and creative approaches for diversifying content

to compete for five grants not exceeding USD 12,000.00 each, for a period of up to 12 months. The winning media outlets are expected to provide 10-12 competitively selected high school students with 28 two-hour-long lessons over 14 weeks, through two consecutive intakes. In total 20-24 students should be trained in a year during 28 weeks through 54 two- hour-long lessons. Content produced by high school students should be incorporated in publications/programs by the media outlet running the workshop. IREX will provide senior editors designated by media outlets as teachers for high school students with teaching materials in the Georgian language and advice on teaching methods throughout the year. IREX funds may be used for subsidizing the salary of senior editors-turned-journalism teachers and for supporting the reporting activities of high school students enrolled in workshops (for example, by covering transportation expenses, providing Flip cameras, etc.) and creating incentives for them (for example, by organizing a contest for best multimedia reportage or best photo story, etc.). The winning media outlets should provide a workplan for how they plan to maintain contact with the workshop participants after they graduate from the program, including how they will engage them as free-lance contributors and citizen journalists on a continued basis.

This Call for Applications will be followed by an Open Door Day, which will take place in IREX office on Jan. 18, 2012, at 2:00 pm. At Open Door Day interested applicants will be provided with more detailed guidance on the application process.

Applications should be received no later than Jan. 26, 2012 6:00 pm, to be considered for a grant award. Questions regarding this grant application should be submitted to Tatuli Gogadze no later than Jan 25, 2012 6:00 pm. See additional contact information below.

Evaluation Criteria for Applications

The G-MEDIA Grants Committee will review the applications against the following criteria:

Organizational Capacity

1. Independence of the media outlet;
2. Impartiality in reporting and covering news;
3. Potential to transmit best professional practices and values to high school students;
4. Ability of the organization to efficiently handle proposed workload.

Quality of Proposal

1. Motivation to host workshops for youth
2. Professionalism of personnel proposed as teachers
3. Efficient use of resources requested from IREX;
4. Viability of plan proposed to keep the program graduates engaged in content production.

This request for grant application does not commit IREX to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application not funded or contract for the services or supplies described herein. IREX reserves the right to reject any or applications received.   In issuing this Grants Application document, IREX is not acting as an agent or on behalf of USAID and USAID will not be party of any resulting Subgrant from this grants program.

Please send signed and sealed grant application (scanned, in PDF format) electronically to Tatuli Gogadze at tgogadze@irex.ge. Please request confirmation of the receipt after submission. Alternatively, you can submit hard copy of the application, signed and sealed, accompanied with electronic copy recorded on CD (scanned, in PDF format) to Tatuli Gogadze at the address below:

IREX G-MEDIA Program

6, Marjanishvili Street

Tbilisi 0102, Georgia

Office: +(995 32) 291 26 08

Fax:    +(995 32) 229 19 05

Late or incomplete application may be included for review at the discretion of IREX.

 DOWNLOAD the Grant Application – Media Literacy Eng

Download Budget Template Eng/Geo

About IREX

IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board) is the premier US nonprofit organization specializing in higher education, independent media, Internet development, and civil society programs in the United States, Europe, Eurasia, the Near East, and Asia. Since its founding in 1968, IREX has supported over 15,000 students, scholars, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and other professionals. IREX serves as a major resource for universities, governments, and the corporate sector in understanding international political, social, economic, and business developments.

The IREX Mission

• Foster democracy in transitioning societies
• Strengthen and help internationalize educational, nongovernmental, and media organizations
• Support the highest-quality research in the social sciences and humanities
• Identify and train the next generation of leaders by working together with universities, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, governments, and corporations

About G-MEDIA Program

Funded by USAID, Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed Citizenry and Accountability Program (G-MEDIA) is to improve the public’s access to a range of sources of news and information by developing a more politically balanced, editorially independent, professional and viable media sector that reaches audiences across Georgia through diverse delivery channels. The program seeks to raise the quality and diversity of media content and broaden delivery channels; improve professionalism, including through university journalism education; depoliticize the regulatory environment and strengthen journalists’ capacity to address infringements to their rights and breaches of professional ethics; and improve the viability of media outlets.

IREX has designed and implemented independent media projects in more than 20 countries across Europe and Eurasia. IREX also publishes the annual Media Sustainability Index (MSI), a valuable tool that analyzes the status and progress of independent media.

Proposal Due Date:                 January 20, 2012 (By close of business day 6:00pm)

Issue Date:                             January 5, 2012                                  

Proposal Due Date:                January 16, 2012 (By close of business day 6:00pm)

Anticipated Award Date:       January 23, 2012

Software [...]]]> REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Issue Date:                             January 5, 2012                                  

Proposal Due Date:                January 16, 2012 (By close of business day 6:00pm)

Anticipated Award Date:       January 23, 2012

Software delivery and installation should be completed by February 10^th, 2012.

IREX, (International Research & Exchanges Board), under the scope of G-MEDIA program is seeking proposals from qualified respondents to procure and install 50 copies of Adobe CS5.5 Master Collection Multiple Platforms, International English, AOO License for Modern Media Center Converged Newsroom in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.  The anticipated award will be a cost reimbursable subcontract.

IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. IREX began administering training projects and associated grant programs for professionals throughout Georgia in 1994. The programs and projects encompass a variety of fields, including university research and teaching, corporate management and commerce, government policymaking and diplomacy, journalism and the media.

IREX currently administers following programs in Georgia: G-MEDIA (Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed citizenry and Accountability) Program; Georgian Media Partnership Program (GMPP); Global Undergraduate Exchange Program; Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program; Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA); ECA Alumni Small Grants Program; The University Administration Support Program (UASP).

The four-year USAID-funded G-MEDIA program seeks to assist in the improvement of the quality and availability of news and information on new and traditional platforms, produced by professionals with improved skills and new citizen contributors. The program will lay groundwork for continuing improvements in the Georgian media environment by supporting systematic, evidence-based advocacy for improved media law and regulation driven by Georgian stakeholders. Detailed information about G-MEDIA is available on the website: http://irex.ge

Proposal Requirements

Organizations interested in providing this service must submit a proposal, including the following:

• Proposed quote excluding VAT (with a  sufficient detail to determine the price elements);
• Resumes of key staff that will be assigned to the project;
• Certificate of company registration;
• Proof that company does not have debts to the tax authorities;
  • List of three similar completed projects, with contact information for the clients;
  • Proposals must be in English.

Service, Installation and Support requirements:

In addition to procurement of the software, the vendor will be required to provide the following pre-sales, installation and after care service and support.

The vendor will provide in their bid the pricing for these support services.

Service deliverables

• Timely provision of the acquired software
• Providing technical support expertise for the IT Equipment manager of the facility, assist in troubleshooting and training of the manager on systems they may be unfamiliar with.
• Facilitate delivery, unboxing, testing and configuration of the systems that will be ordered.

Software delivery and installation should be completed by February 15^th, 2012.

We are looking for one vendor to provide the software and services as noted in this RFP.  Such vendor can subcontract out for some equipment and installation, but has ultimate responsibility for seeing the project completed.

For questions contact the consultant Robb Montgomery. He is based inChicago, USA.

Robb Montgomery

CEO, Visual Editors

Email: ceo@visualeditors.com

Proposal Evaluation

The criteria are listed in descending order starting with the most important factors to be evaluated.

• Overall Price Competitiveness (40%)
• Flexibility & Customer Service (25%)
• Creativity in approach (10%)
• Qualifications of key personnel (10%)
• Organizational capacity (10%)
• Past references (5%)

Evaluation and ranking of proposals will be done by IREX G-MEDIA, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.  IREX may at its discretion ask for additional information or perform site visits.

Renewal

IREX reserves the right, based on availability of funding and vendor performance, to enter into subsequent contractual agreements with the winning vendor for a period of up to five years without issuing a new RFP.

Proposal Submission

The deadline for submission of RFP documents is January 16, 2012, at 18:00.

Please e-mail the proposal and supporting documents to Tinatin Gogolashvili-Radford at tgogolashvili-radford@irex.ge

All proposals submitted must be valid for a period of not less than sixty (60) calendar days from the closing date indicated above.

Contact Information

Name: Tinatin Gogolashvili-Radford

Title: Multimedia Education Center Manager

IREX Georgia

6 Marjanishvili Street

Tbilisi 0102, Georgia

Email: tgoglashvili-radford@irex.ge

Tel: +995 99 411116

Former Interpressnews news agency reporter Malkhaz Chkadua was among those journalists who have been injured during dispersing the protest rally in front of the Parliament building early morning of May 26. According to the reports, the law enforcers damaged several cameras and physically and verbally insulted the journalists. Malkhaz Chkadua and his colleagues found it [...]]]>

Former Interpressnews news agency reporter Malkhaz Chkadua was among those journalists who have been injured during dispersing the protest rally in front of the Parliament building early morning of May 26. According to the reports, the law enforcers damaged several cameras and physically and verbally insulted the journalists. Malkhaz Chkadua and his colleagues found it useful and interesting to participate in the training organized by IREX for journalists and editors on how to cover riots and other violent stories. “We discussed all the practical tips on how to act in such situations: to move in small groups, to communicate and get in dialogue with police if it is needed to avoid confrontations, to avoid getting deeply in crowd. This is very simple, but important advise” – he said.

The trainer Timothy Kenny discussed the roles and responsibilities of journalists and editors in hostile environment, protective mechanisms for reporters, correspondents and journalists in conflict situations, and posttraumatic stresses.

Timothy Kenny has twenty-three years of experience working as a reporter. As the foreign editor of a daily title, Timothy Kenny traveled widely in Central and Eastern Europe from 1989-93, reporting from Russia, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Croatia during the early stages of the conflicts there. In all, he has filed stories from more than forty countries, including the Velvet Revolution in Prague and the twentieth anniversary of the entry of the British Army into Belfast.  Since 1989, he has covered conflicts and riots in Nicaragua, Panama, Afghanistan, and throughout Central Asia. Timothy Kenny has also worked as a political reporter for United Press International, and is also working as an editor and reporter at daily and weekly newspapers in Oregon and Michigan. His reporting has appeared in such renowned publications as USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal/Europe, the Chicago Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, EurasiaNet.org, and many others.

Along with useful tips, participants reviewed an ethical dilemma of free will: Is any story worth dying for? “Always, constantly, constantly, every minute, weigh the benefits against risks. And as soon as you come to the point where you feel uncomfortable with that equation, get out, go, leave it. It’s not worth it. There is no story worth getting killed for,” – Timothy Kenny quoted what Terry Anderson, former Associated press Beirut bureau chief, who was held hostage for nearly seven years in Lebanon, has said.

“I could not give skeleton key how to act and cover riots, but I know for sure that journalist should avoid working with cowboys, persons who are risk takers  – shared his wide experience Timothy Kenny  – and always consider, that more important is what happened and not what happened to you.”

David Mchedlidze, editor of www.media.ge, went himself to cover 26 May event. “I have delayed to instruct journalist how to act in tough circumstances and I decided to go myself and cover the protest rally.  If I have passed this training earlier, I am sure I had planned it properly. Now I know how to minimize risks and how to develop a flexible plan.”

In the result of 5 – day training sessions, 48 journalists and editors have been trained in how to manage the story and environment while working in the midst of riots and other violent situations.

“Multimedia Education Center combines current and future needs,” said Robb Montgomery during his last visit in Georgia to put final touch on the MEC project.  Since January he developed a set of S.M.A.R.T. newsroom concepts to ensure the space will become a hub for discussions that intersect across the disciplines of technology, journalism, [...]]]>

“Multimedia Education Center combines current and future needs,” said Robb Montgomery during his last visit in Georgia to put final touch on the MEC project.  Since January he developed a set of S.M.A.R.T. newsroom concepts to ensure the space will become a hub for discussions that intersect across the disciplines of technology, journalism, and governance.  The S.M.A.R.T. newsroom concept stands for Scalable, Multi-purpose, Agile, Responsible, Trusted and features state-of-the-art thinking about new media, open space architecture, and mobile-oriented media labs.

Rigid, theory-based curriculum, a lack of teachers with professional experience in media, inadequate facilities and other challenges still facing journalism education in Georgia generated the innovative idea of bringing studies out of classrooms and into a studio environment. Multipurpose, multimedia editorial studio and learning environment includes 40 mobile work stations and a classroom with 20 positions which will be managed by IREX for the first year and then be handed over to CSJMM and other local journalism schools.

MEC is only space in the region equipped with the latest visual media tools that can be easily converted into discussion space/classroom by moving furniture and partitions. “Mr. Montgomery defined all technical details – how to arrange editorial corner, how to design space in a way that it can be easy reconfigured into studio, stage, lab and classroom. He will also provide trainings for lecturers on teaching techniques, instruct MEC stuff on how to use equipment and etc.,” said Tamara Gabisonia, G-MEDIA Senior Journalism Education Officer.

“The center is funded with U.S. tax dollars via USAID, which aims to assist emerging democracies. In this case, by encouraging a free press,” – responded to the upcoming opening of MEC in his blog Charles Apple, freelance journalist on American Copy Editors Society.

Key beneficiaries of the center will be CSJMM students (more than 100 students of CSJMM). Along with the graduate studies taking place at the MEC the marketing area will work together with the educational component to develop two different programs set up for professional skills development and for amateur enthusiasts interested in learning a new skill in photography, social media development, writing tactics, etc.

In order to generate revenue MEC will invite local or foreign media professionals to utilize MEC space for the media events while working in Georgia or region of South Caucasus. The Center will provide a great venue to have conference meetings, movie showing, arranging distance learning master classes and lectures. “We plan to develop partnership and sponsorship cooperation with International Corporations and organizations such as Adobe, Google, Microsoft and likes of them along with the Georgian leading organizations who would be interested to put their names as sponsors for the programs, conferences and events held at the MEC. We have reached to the Adobe Systems Incorporated and started negotiations to establish such partnership,” – said Tiko Gogolashvili-Radford, MEC manager.

Robb Montgomery has been rolling into the MEC project all his experience as a journalist, technologist, teacher and consultant. He is the CEOand founder of Visual Editors. As an independent consultant he works with top media houses in Europe, North America and the Middle East to develop new prototypes for news products and to design multimedia and cross platform newsrooms. He has worked as a USAID contractor in the media development field since 2006. He previously worked as an editor for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.

“I am so happy it is turning out to be the kind of place where the next generation of journalists will cut their teeth,” – writes Robb Montgomery in his blog seeing this place as an inspiration to report, produce and teach more creatively. The center intending to develop into a media industry engine for Georgia and beyond will have a grand opening in December.

Read one more story about the newsroom on our blog.

About 60 journalists will be trained on judicial system transparency, disciplinary proceedings and their right to the information before the end of the year. First court reporting training among the four provided by GYLA, with support of IREX and East and West Management Institute, was held on November 12-14.  Journalists from [...]]]>

About 60 journalists will be trained on judicial system transparency, disciplinary proceedings and their right to the information before the end of the year. First court reporting training among the four provided by GYLA, with support of IREX and East and West Management Institute, was held on November 12-14.  Journalists from electronic, print and online media updated their knowledge on main principles of the administrative, civil and criminal law, court proceedings and terminology; High Council of Justice and its main functions; Open hearings and role of the media in the process;

“Training agenda is based on the needs of Georgian media. Media Legal Defense Center of GYLA intensively cooperates with journalists and we are aware of the problems they are facing in covering trials. During three-day training we updated journalists’ knowledge about the structure of the judicial system and new amendments in law as well,” said Tamar Metreveli, Director of Foundation for the support of Legal Education.

“Most problematic in court reporting is the lack of trust. Judges consider that in most cases journalists are covering the stories with bias and distorting facts and quotes. From their side, journalists are complaining that public information isn’t always freely available them,” said Nini Gogiberidze, editor of Tabula magazine, who trained journalists on interviewing technique, working with sources and ethical standards. “Journalists need to report fairly and accurately on what is happening in the courts. Only in this way will journalists be able to break down stereotypes and build confidence in their professionalism,” – responded to this point Barbara Swann, media expert from IREX volunteer partner International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP), in her video presentation “Judges, prosecutors, journalists and public and their right to the information”.

Tamaz Kupreishvili, journalist of Netgazeti, picked up couple of ideas from training session for his future stories.  Journalist thinks that public is not provided with enough information about the rights of the jury.  First trial in the history of the Georgian judiciary with participation of 12 citizens has started at the Tbilisi City Court on November 9.  Journalist stressed that main problem in the court reporting is to obtain a legal right of audio recording of the trial. “As a rule, journalists are denied by judge to make an audio record. We have legal right of recording, but it appeared that judge is authorized to reject our request. Before this training I thought that I was always right, but it turned out that it was not the case. Professionals explained to us all details of the procedure – how to obtain the permission from the judge. Anyway, only once were the journalists allowed to record the trial of a Jewish businessmen case, which was also attended by international media representatives.”

Tskriala Shermadini, investigative journalist of studio Monitor, along with the problem of audio recording, spoke about the accessibility of public information. “We prepared an appeal after refusal from the Municipality to provide us with the details of money transfer to Imedi TV for covering the city news. This court case passed several instances and now we are waiting adjudication from the Supreme Court. After 2 year fighting information might not be useful for us, but we are trying to create the precedent of appealing for our legal right to get public information.”

Call for Letters of Interest

 Media Business Consulting

Issued on: November 18, 2011

In the frames of its Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed citizenry and Accountability (G-MEDIA) Program, which is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development [...]]]>  

Call for Letters of Interest

 Media Business Consulting

Issued on: November 18, 2011

In the frames of its Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed citizenry and Accountability (G-MEDIA) Program, which is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IREX will offer provide tailored business consulting and innovation advice to promising and growth-oriented media outlets.

IREX will contract its local business advisors – the Georgian Management Consulting Group (Innova) — to address  strategic planning, financial management, HR management, marketing and sales, taxation risk identification and other challenges to the extent necessary as it is specific to the Georgian business sector by first conducting organizational audits of selected media outlets to identify the weaknesses and challenges they face and then providing them a detailed action plan and in-house consulting in the areas where they are particularly low-performing.

Media outlets willing to embrace groundbreaking change to improve their positioning in the media market are invited to compete in this program.

Those interested should submit IREX a Letter of Interest in Georgian, not exceeding 2,000 words, to explain their motivation to participate in the program and describe what and why they want to improve with the help of IREX consultants. In the Letter of Interest they should also describe their current situation, problems and risks they encounter every day, their viewpoint on development and their vision for the consulting support.

The winners must be open to scrutiny both in terms of management styles and accounting procedures, including by opening accounting books for examination. They will be asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire detailing their business practices in different areas, such as finances, marketing, sales, distribution and others. They must be also willing to implement recommendations from G-MEDIA consultants.

Innova and the G-MEDIA M&E expert will work with the winning media outlets to outline business objectives for on-site consulting and develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), including benchmarks for accessing additional assistance.

Additional assistance will be provided by G-MEDIA’s contracted international media business management experts.

Media outlets from both Tbilisi and the regions, regardless of platform, are eligible to apply.

This program is not envisioned to support the creation of new outlets, but such initiatives might be considered as an exception.

On November 28, at 4:00 pm, G-MEDIA will host Open Door Day in its office, where those interested will be given an opportunity to ask questions regarding this business consulting program.

Letters of Interests will be evaluated by independent experts based on the organization’s commitment to the highest professional standards, openness to new knowledge and ideas, willingness to disclose to IREX consultants information on their business operations to allow them to offer fully informed advice, and potential to expand and grow.

Please send signed and sealed Letter of Interest (scanned, in PDF format) electronically to Tatuli Gogadze at tgogadze@irex.ge by 6:00 p.m. on December 6.  Please request confirmation of the receipt after submission. 

Alternatively, you can submit hard copy of the Letter of Interest, signed and sealed, accompanied with electronic copy recorded on CD (scanned, in PDF format) to Tatuli Gogadze at the address below:

IREX G-MEDIA Program

6, Marjanishvili Street

Tbilisi 0102, Georgia

Office: +(995 32) 291 26 08

Fax:    +(995 32) 229 19 05

Late or incomplete Letters of Interest may be included for review at the discretion of IREX.

About IREX

IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board) is the premier US nonprofit organization specializing in higher education, independent media, Internet development, and civil society programs in the United States, Europe, Eurasia, the Near East, and Asia. Since its founding in 1968, IREX has supported over 15,000 students, scholars, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and other professionals. IREX serves as a major resource for universities, governments, and the corporate sector in understanding international political, social, economic, and business developments.

The IREX Mission

• Foster democracy in transitioning societies
• Strengthen and help internationalize educational, nongovernmental, and media organizations
• Support the highest-quality research in the social sciences and humanities
• Identify and train the next generation of leaders by working together with universities, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, governments, and corporations

About the G-media program

Funded by USAID, Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed Citizenry and Accountability Program (G-MEDIA) is to improve the public’s access to a range of sources of news and information by developing a more politically balanced, editorially independent, professional and viable media sector that reaches audiences across Georgia through diverse delivery channels. The program seeks to raise the quality and diversity of media content and broaden delivery channels; improve professionalism, including through university journalism education; depoliticize the regulatory environment and strengthen journalists’ capacity to address infringements to their rights and breaches of professional ethics; and improve the viability of media outlets.

IREX has designed and implemented independent media projects in more than 20 countries across Europe and Eurasia. IREX also publishes the annual Media Sustainability Index (MSI), a valuable tool that analyzes the status and progress of independent media