Apply for the grant!
Please complete the application form and submit it no later than 31 July 2026 to aya.jakimova-kuge@bcme.eu
Media Resilience Accelerator
Open Call for Applications
The Baltic Centre for Media Excellence (BCME), with the support of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is launching the Baltic Shield: Strengthening Independent Media programme.
Baltic Shield: Strengthening Independent Media is a regional resilience programme designed to help independent media organisations in the Baltic region strengthen their preparedness for today’s evolving information and security challenges. Through tailored mentorship, expert support and an implementation grant, participating organisations will improve their capacity to respond to cyber threats, foreign information manipulation (FIMI), disinformation, crisis situations and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on journalism. The programme aims to provide practical, needs-based support that helps newsrooms build stronger internal systems, policies and workflows for long-term resilience.
The programme will support 15 independent media organisations from the Baltic region through tailored mentorship, expert guidance and practical financial support to strengthen their resilience against today’s information and security challenges.
Each participating organisation will receive an individual needs assessment, a customised mentorship plan and an implementation grant of up to EUR 1,800 to introduce practical improvements identified during the mentoring process.
Who can apply?
Independent media organisations, operating from the Baltic countries.
Priority will be given to organisations facing significant resilience challenges and demonstrating commitment to implementing improvements.
A total of 15 organisations will be selected (5 from each Baltic country).
What does the programme include?
Selected organisations will receive:
- An individual needs assessment;
- Tailored mentorship with an experienced lead mentor;
- Access to additional subject experts where needed;
- An implementation grant up to EUR 1,800 for eligible software, hardware, subscriptions or AI tools;
- Participation in regional kick-off and closing events with fellow media organisations.
Areas of support
Applicants are encouraged to apply with challenges related to:
- Newsroom cybersecurity
- Secure communication
- Crisis preparedness and response
- Editorial resilience
- Editorial workflows
- Countering disinformation and FIMI
- AI policies and responsible AI use
- AI verification and fact-checking
- Secure data storage and backups
As every newsroom has different needs, the final mentorship plan will be developed individually following the needs assessment.
Project timeline
- Application deadline: July 31, 2026
- Individual needs assessments with selected media: August 10-19, 2026
- Regional kick-off events: August 24-28, 2026
- Tailored mentorship and implementation: September-November, 2026
- Closing online event: December 2026
How to apply
Please complete the application form and submit it no later than 31 July 2026 to aya.jakimova-kuge@bcme.eu.
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