Deadline: 24-Aug-21
The European Commission is calling for Proposals for Preparation and Implementation of a Course on the EU and on EU Cohesion policy for journalism schools to support job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth, sustainable development, and improve citizens’ quality of life across the EU’s 240 regions.
In 2021, European journalists, including young journalists still being trained for this profession, often lack a more in-depth understanding of the European Union and basic knowledge of how the EU invests in their regions and cities. A course on the EU and Cohesion policy targeting journalism students would increase the number of journalists specialized in EU affairs and contribute more broadly to informed coverage of EU policies and initiatives including those implemented at regional and local level. It would also help reduce misinformation and disinformation regarding the Union, enabling journalists to better identify fake news and to conduct their fundamental fact-checking mission.
Objectives
- With the current call for proposals, the European Commission seeks potential beneficiaries that will develop a curriculum and teaching materials for a course on the European Union and on EU Cohesion policy for journalism students, set up a deployment strategy, create a network of accredited journalism educational institutions in the Member States, and implement a course on the European Union and on EU Cohesion policy across that network. The main aim is to set up a more systematic basic EU training offer as part of the curriculum for journalism studies.
- The specific objectives of this call for proposals are:
- To improve the level of knowledge, key competences and skills of journalism students regarding both the European Union and EU Cohesion policy;
- To encourage an academic debate regarding the EU and, specifically, Cohesion policy, its results, its role in delivering on the EU’s political priorities and on its future;
- To foster quality improvements and innovation in teaching about the EU and about EU Cohesion policy in the context of journalism studies, in particular through enhanced cooperation between educational institutions.
- The course curriculum should include:
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- The basics of how the EU works
- How the EU invests in regions and cities, notably via Cohesion policy
- How to cover and report on EU initiatives and projects with a focus of regional and local level
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Funding Information
- The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the project under this call for proposals is estimated at EUR 1.000.000.
- The Commission expects to fund one proposal.
- The project’s duration must be between 12 months and 18 months.
Expected Results and Outputs
The expected results and outputs are the following:
- To develop a curriculum and teaching material on the European Union and on Cohesion policy that can be used in journalism schools throughout the EU during and after the implementation period of the project;
- To set up a network of journalism schools dedicated to advancing EU and Cohesion policy studies in journalism, with a long functioning period;
- To increase the number of journalism graduates with a basic understanding of how the EU works and how it invests in regions and cities.
Country of Establishment
- Only applications from legal entities established in the following countries are eligible: – EU Member States.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposals may be submitted by universities and other educational institutions teaching journalism at undergraduate and graduate level that are located in an EU Member State and accredited under the legislation of that country. Natural persons are not eligible.
For more information, visit https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/tender/doc/propositions/2021_16_bat_002/call_proposals_en.pdf