Berlin Incubator for Media in Exile

Call for applications for autumn 2023

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About BIMEX

BIMEX is a capacity building programme for independent Belarusian and Russian Media. The programme helps to form an NGO or non-profit company for exiled media in Germany and will cover consultancy and registration costs (e.g. regarding registration). Through trainings, individual consultancy and mentorship, media teams will be assisted to establish an organisation after the relocation to Germany or to develop an existing legal entity focusing on grant and finance management, strategic planning, human resources and building partnership projects with local stakeholders. Networking and peer-learning events round up the programme’s agenda.

The latest round of BIMEX took place from September until December 2023. The project was organised in cooperation with JX Fund with financial support from the German Government Commissioner for Media and Culture (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien).

Programme

The programme consists of seminars with additional webinars, networking events and individual consultations. The programme’s contents are designed according to the participants’ needs, and are structured along the following topics:

01

Needs assessment

Relocation and visa issues

Security issues

Legal status in Germany

Strategic planning

Grant applications and management

Finances and Human Resources

02

Forming and managing a foreign media in Germany

Do I need my own legal entity in Germany?

Forms of organisations

Fiscal sponsorship and other types of cooperation

Human Resources

Finance management

Budgeting, accounting, monitoring, controlling and outsourcing models

03

Grants and Fundraising

Funding for non-profits

Grant mapping for Belarusian and Russian media and NGOs in Germany

Applications, budgets, logframes and other grant documents

Crowdfunding

Donations

Advertising

Development and testing of new products

04

Security and human resources

Risk Assessment

Security Protocols

Visa and legal issues for foreign journalists

Mental health issues

05

Infrastructure & networks in Berlin

Co-working opportunities for exiled media (incl. meeting/event spaces, recording studios)

Networking and development of cooperation

Communicating, pitching and presenting a media project

Developing cross-border networks

Eligibility criteria

The programme is open to teams of journalists and media organisations from Belarus and Russia with a strong commitment to editorial independence and high standards of journalistic ethics;

Application can be submitted by media teams that have relocated to Germany or can travel to Berlin to participate in training workshops;

Applicants must not be connected to a political party, political institution, or businesses and individuals sanctioned by the EU;

Applicants must have published stories on Belarus or Russia in the past 6 months in the country or from exile;

Applicants must have a clear concept for their media, a 12 month plan, and a budget for their media project;

Applicants may be subject to due diligence, as part of the selection process.

Participants are selected by an expert panel comprising independent journalists and media experts, as well as jinn and JX Fund representatives, based on the strength of the ideas, concept and plans of the applicant.

How to apply?

To participate in the BIMEX programme please fill out this form until September 12th. An independent panel will evaluate all applications. We will inform you of the selection results via email. Please, read the FAQ section before submitting the application.

Apply

FAQ

Terms of participation

Participation in the programme is open to exile media from Belarus and Russia with a strong commitment to editorial independence and high standards of journalistic ethics. The programme is targeted towards media teams, who had to leave their countries due to political restrictions or due to threats to their safety or ability to operate. We invite media representatives or journalists in teams of 2 to 4 individuals. We welcome participants whose editorial office plans to (re)launch a project, develop a media, or carry out an active fundraising campaign in Germany. Your team should already be based in Germany or able to move to Germany by September 2023.

Training and mentoring support

The programme includes lectures, seminars and consultations held by experts in law, taxation, entrepreneurial management, project management, fundraising, mental health, security and digital media. Editorial offices will receive mentoring support from the partner media, NGOs and foundations.

Languages

Languages of instruction are English and Russian. Good English command is necessary to participate in consultations, workshops, meetings, pitches and networking events.

Outcomes

After successfully completing the BIMEX programme, the editorial representatives will have gained knowledge of how to run a business in Germany, create and test media in exile models, prepare employment documents for employees, write grant applications, register a legal entity or launch a partnership project with German media.

Partners

BIMEX is organised in cooperation with JX Fund with financial support from the German Government Commissioner for Media and Culture (Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien).

Contact us:
info@jinn-media.org

Photo by Ivan Sumlikin on Unsplash.