The European Fact-Checking Standards Network is launching a training and mentoring project for young fact-checking organisations in Europe with the support of Porticus.
Are you a young, independent fact-checking organisation that has only just started or a growing organisation wishing to expand its fact-checking capabilities? Do you want to learn from the experiences of fact-checking professionals in Europe and take inspiration from the successes and skills of others?
If this sounds like you, you can apply to participate in the project as a mentee. If you’re selected for the project you’ll receive the following benefits:
- 3000€ grant
- 7 training sessions
- Mentorship from an experienced fact-checking organisation.
- Waived application fee for EFCSN membership
- Waived membership fee in EFCSN for your first year
To apply please fill out the questionnaire by March 7, 2024.
The following modules are planned in this project, offering four virtual training sessions of two hours each:
- Editorial Management
- Digital Research and Verification
- Archiving
- AI for Fact-Checkers
- Communication
- Business Models and Fundraising
- Transparency
The training language is English. Training is scheduled to begin in April 2024 and be completed by July 2024.
Eligibility criteria
- Have a legal personality
- Both members and non-members of the EFCSN are eligible
- Independent organisations with existing experience in fact-checking (the organisation regularly publishes fact-checks about 4 fact-checks per month)
- Operations in one or more member States of the Council of Europe + Belarus + Kosovo + Russia
- Primarily focus on topics that are in the public interest in the country of operation
- Commit/interest to apply to the EFCSN if not a member yet
Selection criteria
- We will favour applicants with a focus on debunking national disinformation
- We will favour small organisations, whether for profit or non profit
- We have a particular focus on, but not limited to, Central and Eastern Europe
- Quality of the development plan: where do they want to be in a year’s time?
- Applicants should explain what values they uphold by doing fact-checking
- Applicants have a team of at least 2 members dedicated (full time or part time) to fact-checking
- Applicants have the capacity to follow the training programs (who is going to attend?)
- Applicants commit to take measures in order to implement what’s been learned
- We will favour organisations from countries which do not have an established fact-checking community or with a small fact-checking community
- Have to be as close as possible to abide by the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations
Interested? Please complete the questionnaire by March 7, 2024.
