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Description
Local non-profit media are currently exposed to a very high risk – they can either be taken over by large private firms or face financial problems. The 2016 King’s College London research shows that the fall of such media might lead to higher polarisation within communities, distrust of authorities, less informed citizens and lower level of their political engagement.We will address the problem by educating and networking local journalists. We will run a cycle of ten training sessions and workshops on the audience acquisition and retention, technologies and online tools for the media, on the press act and journalism ethics. We will also organise two study tours inviting local editing teams participating in the project. They will aim at exchanging experience and knowledge between participants and getting to know various small editing teams all over Poland. Finally, we will organise a Non-Profit Media Forum to summarise the project and run a networking workshop for its participants. We will strive during the meeting to establish a common platform of cooperation for non-profit media allowing for cooperation and communication between such media after the project completion.Our partner is Fundacja Alternatywnej Edukacji “ALE” that has vast experience in media and social&civic education for local development. The foundation will support us in running the training and in recruiting participants.
Summary of project results
Local not-for-profit media outlets are in a difficult position, either facing takeover by large private companies or closure due to chronic financial problems. Research from King''s College London in 2016 shows that the demise of such media outlets can result in increased polarization in communities, distrust of government, less informed citizen(s) and their lower political engagement.
We responded by educating and networking with local journalists. We conducted a series of training sessions and workshops on audience acquisition and retention, technology and online tools for the media, and press law and journalistic ethics. We also organized a study visit to the International Dialogue Centre in Krasnogruda. We invited local nonprofit editorial offices participating in the project to participate. The main aim of the visit was to exchange experience and knowledge among participants and to get to know various small editorial offices in Poland. Finally, we organized a Non-Profit Media Forum, in Olsztyn, during which we summarised the project and held a networking workshop for those gathered. The conference was also a good opportunity for networking among the participants.
Our partner was the Alternative Education Foundation ''ALE'', which has extensive experience in media and socio-civic education for local development. The foundation supported us in conducting training and recruiting participants.
From the evaluation of the projects, we know that through the activities, we were able to facilitate networking among participants. In addition, they strengthened their knowledge and competence in, for example, press law or audience acquisition. In addition, the study visit gave participants a new perspective on local activities, to those who participated, and showed the importance of intercultural dialogue.
As an additional part of the project, we conducted workshops with local media representatives and young people from a high school in Ostróda. The result of the workshop is a voiceover narration in the campaign spot we prepared. Thanks to promotion and advertising, the reach of the spot is over 152,000 unique viewers.
A tutorial was also prepared and posted on the project website: Don''t make television! How to animate valuable trends in local communication using modern technology.