Digital Journalism in the South Pacific Region | PAS NEWZEALAND 2021 08

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS NEWZEALAND 2021 08

The grant opportunity titled Digital Journalism in the South Pacific Region (Funding Opportunity Number: PAS NEWZEALAND 2021 08) is a U.S. Department of State program administered through the U.S. Mission to New Zealand, specifically the Embassy Public Affairs Section. It was announced as an open competition for proposals that deliver training or other structured programming focused on digital journalism for people working in, or closely connected to, the media environment across the South Pacific Island region. In practical terms, the opportunity is looking for projects that strengthen digital reporting skills and the broader information ecosystem by helping media actors produce and distribute accurate, reliable information online.

A central theme of the program is responding to disinformation and improving the ability of journalists and other communicators to recognize it, explain it, and counter it through better reporting practices and stronger digital techniques. The opportunity is framed around the United States working with regional partners to support human rights, the rule of law, freedom of the press, and free access to information. The Embassy emphasizes collaboration with a wide range of partners such as government entities, civil society groups, professional associations, and institutions, suggesting that competitive proposals would likely include partnerships or coordination with organizations already active in the Pacific media landscape.

The target audience is broad within the media sphere and explicitly includes not only professional journalists, but also citizen journalists and online influencers, reflecting how information is now created and shared in digital spaces. The program is open to a variety of activities and formats, giving applicants flexibility to design what makes sense for different Pacific contexts. Examples listed include speaker programs, hands-on workshops, conferences, exchanges, reporting tours, and academic tours. This implies that projects can range from short, skills-based training sessions to multi-part programs that combine instruction with practical field experience, networking, and cross-border learning opportunities.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument type is listed as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, which generally means the Department of State may either provide funding with standard grant oversight or may take a more involved role in shaping and monitoring the project under a cooperative agreement structure. The funding activity category is Education, and the CFDA number is 19.040 (a common identifier for State Department public diplomacy and related assistance programs).

Eligibility is relatively wide. Applicants may include public or state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations both with and without U.S. IRS 501(c)(3) status, and even individuals. This range suggests the Embassy was aiming to attract proposals from universities, journalism schools, training providers, NGOs working on media development, and experienced practitioners capable of running training or exchange-style programs.

In terms of funding scale and anticipated reach, the award ceiling is $60,000 per award, and the opportunity anticipated up to 10 awards. The notice was created on August 28, 2021, with an original closing date of September 25, 2021. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a relatively modest, programmatic public diplomacy funding call designed to improve digital journalism capacity in the South Pacific by equipping media actors with updated tools, techniques, and awareness to promote accurate information and strengthen resilience to disinformation.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to New Zealand in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Digital Journalism in the South Pacific Region" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 28, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 25, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.

Apply for PAS NEWZEALAND 2021 08

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