ACTIVITY DATES: August 2004 - August 2010

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Foundation for Independent Radio Broadcasting (FNR)

REGION(S): Kaliningradskaya oblast, Kamchatskaya oblast, Khabarovskiy kray, Kirovskaya oblast, Novosibirskaya oblast, Primorskiy kray, Vologodskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Through this project, FNR provides assistance to regional radio stations through activities aimed at: 1) improving the quality of news and public affairs programming; 2) promoting the use of journalistic and business practices that serve the dual role of editorial independence and commercial success; 3) formulating journalistic and business standards for the regional radio industry; and 4) developing a knowledge center and business support institution for the regional radio industry.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

Recognized as a leading clearinghouse for technical expertise in radio broadcasting, FNR published and disseminated a book on best practices of independent regional radio stations based on a two-year in-depth survey. The book and audio CD supplement are being distributed to radio stations, journalism schools, and centers for journalistic training nationwide.

Now in its sixth year, FNR's annual festival for regional news radio stations "Together Radio" (http://www.radiofestival.ru/) drew more than 800 professionals from 300 stations.  The festival combines an award competition to promote and recognize quality radio journalism with training sessions on production, journalism and business development.

A web radio portal (http://www.radioportal.ru/) was created to provide radio journalists with information on the radio industry in Russia. The site also offers radio stations an opportunity to create their own web-pages, provides on-line consultations, publishes expert interviews with radio business professionals, and offers discussion forums.  The portal now has more than 1,500 hits per day, which represents a 50% increase over the previous year.  In addition, FNR launched a new online audio host server Podstantsiya (http://www.podstantsiya.ru/). This is Russia's only on-line public affairs radio network that allows experienced professionals to post their own programming on the Internet.

In preparation for the recent Duma and Presidential elections in Russia, FNR hosted two conferences on journalistic professionalism and responsible campaign reporting, drawing journalists from 18 regional radio stations.  FNR also produced a series of seven educational radio programs on how to cover elections and opened an Internet resource dedicated to elections coverage (http://raen.net/elections).

ACTIVITY DATES: September 2007 - September 2010

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX)

REGION(S): Moscow, Nizhegorodskaya oblast, Saratovskaya oblast, Tomskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This project facilitates partnerships between Russian media organizations and their peers in the U.S. and Europe with the goal of fostering equal and sustainable relationships and dialogue on issues of mutual interest.  The partnerships work to achieve: 1) greater media industry self-regulation and adoption of best practices through support of professional associations; 2) enhanced capacity of independent media outlets to produce socially valuable content; and 3) higher standards of basic professional education through international professional exchanges and curriculum development in Russian journalism schools.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

Since the launch, the project has conducted two competitive rounds of partnership grants, which drew 53 proposals from Russian media organizations. 

The winning organizations are: Alliance of Independent Regional Publishers; Foundation for Independent Radio Broadcasting; Saratov Regional Branch of the Russian Union of Journalists; independent television station Tomsk TV-2; a coalition of 13 leading journalism schools across Russia; and the Nizhniy Novgorod branch of the Academy of Science University; Liberal Arts University of Yekaterinburg; Press Development Institute Siberia, Novosibirsk; Social Advertising Laboratory, Moscow; Russian Union of Journalists; Collegium of Media Lawyers; Corporation of Radio; Mass Media Union of Leningradskaya Oblast.

ACTIVITY DATES: June 2004 - September 2009

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Foundation for Information Policy Development (FIPD)

REGION(S): Altaiskiy kray, Arkhangelskaya oblast, Buryatiya Republic, Chitinskaya oblast, Kaliningradskaya oblast, Kaluzhskaya oblast, Khabarovskiy kray, Krasnodarskiy kray, Moskovskaya oblast, Primorskiy kray, Rostovskaya oblast, Sverdlovskaya oblast, Tverskaya oblast, Yaroslavskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project fosters communication between regional journalists, media experts and appointed/elected officials at different levels, in order to develop a dialogue between all participants in the political and electoral process leading up to and during Federal and municipal electoral campaigns.  The goal is to help local authorities and media leaders to better understand and support the role of the mass media in the effective functioning of a democratic society.

FIPD organizes educational activities designed to:  1) provide media representatives with the training necessary for efficient coverage of regional politics, policies and elections; 2) establish a council of regional media experts that provides analytical expertise, educates the public on the local media issues, and widely disseminates best practices; and 3) involve youth in developing individual and group strategies for community agenda setting prior to elections.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

FIPD has become a recognized resource for media and local authorities, sponsoring seminars, conferences, and analyses.  The organization has received support for its activities from government bodies, regional executive power officials, and oblast level electoral administrators.

FIPD's network of regional experts expanded to 75 regions and produced 25 expert analytical polls on different political issues, which were made publicly available on the FIPD website (http://www.frip.ru/).  The FIPD newsletter expanded its circulation to over 1100 subscribers, including the Russian Presidential Administration.

FIPD held more than 70 regional and national level seminars on cooperation among media, government authorities, and local constituencies to promote self-governance reform and information policy. Over 4000 participants attended - including representatives from media and NGOs, as well as officials from regional and municipal administrations, electoral administrations, legislative assemblies, and political parties. Three national conferences, which drew 400 media specialists from across Russia, were also conducted.

In cooperation with the Council of Federation, FIPD launched an all-Russia contest on best coverage of local self-governance reform that attracted more than 1200 participants.  The FIPD program "Youth and Regional Social Policy Agenda" was also launched.

ACTIVITY DATES: September 2004 - September 2010

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Eurasia Foundation, Eurasia Media

REGION(S): Altaiskiy kray, Altay Republic, Arkhangelskaya oblast, Buryatiya Republic, Chelyabinskaya oblast, Chuvashiya Republic, Irkutskaya oblast, Kaliningradskaya oblast, Kalmykiya Republic, Kaluzhskaya oblast, Kamchatskaya oblast, Kemerovskaya oblast, Kirovskaya oblast, Komi Republic, Krasnodarskiy kray, Krasnoyarskiy kray, Kurskaya oblast, Leningradskaya oblast, Mordoviya Republic, Moscow, Murmanskaya oblast, Nizhegorodskaya oblast, Orenburgskaya oblast, Permskaya oblast, Primorskiy kray, Rostovskaya oblast, Saratovskaya oblast, St. Petersburg, Sverdlovskaya oblast, Tomskaya oblast, Tulskaya oblast, Tuva Repblic, Vladimirskaya oblast, Yaroslavskaya oblast, Yevreyskaya autonomous oblast, Penzenskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project helps selected regional newspapers improve their business management practices, standards of quality, professionalism and ethics in print journalism, as well as increase their capacity to produce socially valuable content.  Project activities also focus on increasing young people's exposure to the journalistic profession, strengthening professional print media industry associations, and increasing regional publishers' access to legal support.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

During the past four years, the Eurasia Foundation has provided direct assistance to more than 54 regional newspapers from 44 Russian regions with a total circulation of more than 850,000 and a potential audience of 15 million readers.  Client newspapers have formed themselves into an informal network of independent sources that produce and share socially valuable content, often breaking newsworthy stories and increasing public attention to important issues. 

Eurasia Media has helped the Alliance of Independent Regional Publishers (AIRP), the first independent regional print media association, to develop into a sustainable fully representative industry lobbying group.  In 2008, AIRP membership reached 47 publishing houses and the association increasingly advocated for the rights of independent publishers and provides professional and business development support to its members.

Eurasia Media launched the first All-Russia "Best Regional Newspaper" competition (http://www.thebestnewspaper.ru/). In 2008, 180 independent newspapers from 55 regions participated.  The contest helps promote professional standards, recognition of best practices, and creation of a platform for professional exchange and networking. In May 2009, the fifth annual Newspaper Design Competition (http://www.newspaperdesign.ru/) was conducted under the project.  An international jury selected 56 winners from 48 newspapers from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.  A catalogue displaying the work of the winning newspapers was published to share best practices in design.