Deadline: 04-Aug-2025
The Fondation Hirondelle (Switzerland) and the Institute for Regional Press and Information (IRMI, Ukraine) have launched the Second Open Call for Applications to award individual grants to 20 regional journalists. These grants aim to support the production of stories addressing local issues related to social cohesion in Ukraine.
The program is informed by a 2024 sociological study of media audiences in Ukraine’s border and war-affected areas. The study highlighted important shifts in the information needs of local communities since the full-scale Russian invasion and revealed strong trust in local media. However, it also pointed to a need for more content on topics like budget transparency, reconstruction progress, regional history, and stories of community success.
In response, the grant program will provide financial and editorial support for journalists to cover themes such as reconstruction and recovery, local governance and budgeting, community challenges and resilience, the relevance of regional history, and examples of unity and development.
Each selected journalist will receive 1,500 Swiss francs to support their reporting. In addition, they will receive personalized editorial mentoring both online and offline. The program also includes two three-day training sessions on editorial production and security, scheduled for September-October 2025 in Kyiv or Lviv. The grant period runs from August 18 to December 17, 2025.
Eligible applicants include Ukrainian journalists working for regional media outlets, either as staff or freelancers. Freelancers must provide a letter of commitment from a media outlet agreeing to publish their work. Proposals must be aimed at a regional Ukrainian audience and intended for publication in regional media. Preference will be given to proposals that include a series of at least three related pieces.
For more information, visit Public Space.
