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).
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:
Relocation and visa issues
Security issues
Legal status in Germany
Strategic planning
Grant applications and management
Finances and Human Resources
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
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
Risk Assessment
Security Protocols
Visa and legal issues for foreign journalists
Mental health issues
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
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.
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.
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 of instruction are English and Russian. Good English command is necessary to participate in consultations, workshops, meetings, pitches and networking events.
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.
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.
© BIMEX, 2023
