Advancing Media Literacy of Regional Journalists in Colombia

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Bogota (PDS Bogota) announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program that supports advancing media and information literacy competencies of Colombian journalists. Targeting primarily journalists and other media professionals (correspondents, radio and television announcers, influencers, among others) based in the regions and smaller urban areas outside of larger cities, the selected implementing partner would provide capacity building and trainings for 75 journalists and media professionals during a period of 6 to 12 months. Priority Region: This program should be aimed toward 75 regional press and media journalists, communicators, social media influencers, and/or content producers and media specialists from regional areas outside main cities. Ideally, it would include 15 people each from the following areas: · Region outside Cali · Region outside Medellin · Region outside Cucuta · Region outside Barranquilla · Region outside Bogota Program Objectives: Today’s Colombian information environment is highly complex and dynamic. Yet, while many professional media enterprises thrive in Colombia’s largest cities, there is a lack of media diversity in many regions. The journalists who are currently working in rural areas are exposed to multitudes of sources sharing information simultaneously and competing for the attention of audiences. PDS Bogota seeks proposals that will strengthen both regionally and locally based Colombian journalists and media professionals’ capabilities to counter disinformation, including through enhancing their ability to identify and analyze independent, reliable, high-quality news and information, promoting the critical thinking skills that foster reality-based narratives, building networks of like-minded leaders, and strengthening best practices across the country. See the Related Documents tab of this Notice for full program information and application instructions. Contact U.S. Embassy Bogota's Public Diplomacy Section for specific application instructions and deadlines.