Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter Program

The Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter initiative provides grants of up to €5,000 to support youth-led projects that combat disinformation, promote media literacy, strengthen trust in journalism, and encourage freedom of expression. The programme is open to eligible young people and organizations from Council of Europe member States, with funded projects to be completed by 31 July 2027.

Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter Overview

The Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter initiative supports innovative projects that empower young people to address the growing challenge of disinformation while promoting free, independent, and trustworthy journalism.

Supported under the Monaco Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the programme recognizes that young people play a vital role in strengthening democratic societies by promoting information integrity, media literacy, and freedom of expression.

The initiative is organized through the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter Campaign in cooperation with the Youth Department’s Youth Revitalising Democracy Project. It combines grant funding with opportunities for networking, learning, visibility, and collaboration among journalists, policymakers, media experts, and youth leaders.

Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following areas:

• Countering disinformation and misinformation
• Media literacy education
• Critical thinking skills
• Promoting trustworthy journalism
• Freedom of expression
• Information integrity
• Democratic resilience
• Journalist safety
• Investigative journalism awareness
• Youth participation in media
• Civic engagement
• Public awareness campaigns

Funding Information

Successful applicants can receive:

• Grant amount: Up to €5,000 per project
• Total programme budget: €20,000
• Number of grants: Up to four projects
• Projects must begin after the grant agreement is signed.
• All activities must be completed by 31 July 2027.

Why This Initiative Matters

Disinformation continues to influence public opinion, democratic participation, and social trust worldwide. Young people are among the largest consumers and creators of online information, making them essential partners in promoting reliable information.

This initiative aims to:

• Build resilience against false information.
• Promote responsible journalism.
• Increase public understanding of media.
• Encourage youth leadership.
• Support democratic values.
• Strengthen freedom of expression.
• Raise awareness about journalist safety.
• Improve public trust in quality journalism.

Eligible Project Activities

Applicants may propose projects such as:

• Media literacy workshops
• Public awareness campaigns
• Educational resources
• Youth journalism initiatives
• Digital literacy training
• Fact-checking campaigns
• Podcasts or video series
• Community discussions
• Social media awareness campaigns
• Journalism education projects
• Creative storytelling initiatives
• Events promoting information integrity

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be between 18 and 30 years old (for natural person applicants).
• Be resident or legally established in a Council of Europe member State.
• Have an active bank account.
• Demonstrate at least two years of experience in one or more of the following:
  • Journalism
  • Media literacy
  • Countering disinformation
  • Freedom of expression
  • Youth engagement
• Have sufficient operational and financial capacity to implement the project.

What Selected Grantees Receive

Beyond financial support, selected grantees will receive opportunities to:

• Present their projects during the Strasbourg event.
• Participate in a high-level conference.
• Join thematic workshops.
• Connect with journalists and media professionals.
• Engage with policymakers and experts.
• Exchange knowledge with fellow grantees.
• Build new partnerships.
• Increase project visibility.
• Explore future collaboration opportunities.

Event Highlights

Selected participants will attend activities including:

• High-level conference sessions
• Media literacy workshops
• Discussions on journalist safety
• Sessions on combating disinformation
• Youth engagement activities
• Networking opportunities
• Project presentations
• Knowledge-sharing sessions

How to Apply

Step 1

Develop a fully designed project focused on combating disinformation, promoting journalism, or strengthening media literacy among young people.

Step 2

Confirm that you satisfy all eligibility requirements, including age, residency, relevant experience, and implementation capacity.

Step 3

Prepare a strong application that clearly explains:

• Project objectives
• Activities
• Expected outcomes
• Timeline
• Budget
• Target audience
• Expected impact

Step 4

Submit your application before the official deadline according to the programme guidelines.

Tips for Preparing a Strong Proposal

To improve your chances of success:

• Clearly explain the disinformation challenge your project addresses.
• Demonstrate meaningful youth participation.
• Include measurable outcomes.
• Show how your project supports democratic values.
• Present a realistic implementation timeline.
• Prepare a clear and transparent budget.
• Highlight previous experience in journalism or media literacy.
• Explain how your project will create long-term impact.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common errors:

• Submitting incomplete applications.
• Proposing activities unrelated to programme priorities.
• Providing unrealistic budgets.
• Missing required eligibility criteria.
• Failing to demonstrate implementation capacity.
• Weak impact measurement plans.
• Unclear project objectives.
• Late application submission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter grants?

Eligible applicants include young people aged 18–30 and eligible organizations established within Council of Europe member States that meet the programme requirements.

How much funding is available?

Each selected project may receive up to €5,000, with a total programme budget of €20,000.

What kinds of projects are supported?

Projects promoting media literacy, combating disinformation, strengthening journalism, improving information integrity, supporting journalist safety, and encouraging youth engagement are eligible.

Do applicants need previous experience?

Yes. Applicants should demonstrate at least two years of relevant experience in journalism, media literacy, youth engagement, freedom of expression, or related fields.

What additional benefits do selected grantees receive?

Selected grantees can participate in conferences, workshops, networking events, project presentations, and collaboration opportunities with journalists, experts, and policymakers.

When must projects be completed?

Funded projects must be completed by 31 July 2027.

Why is this initiative important?

The programme strengthens democratic resilience by helping young people combat disinformation, promote trustworthy journalism, improve media literacy, and protect freedom of expression.

Conclusion

The Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter initiative offers an excellent opportunity for young leaders, journalists, and organizations to develop impactful projects that promote reliable information and democratic values. Through grant funding, expert engagement, networking opportunities, and international visibility, the programme supports innovative youth-led solutions that strengthen media literacy, counter disinformation, and build greater public trust in quality journalism.