RESIS – Skopje – Civica Mobilitas

Total budget: 3,000,000 MKD

Implementation period: 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2026 (12 months)

Specific topic: ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT

Partners:

Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia (CMEM)

Constituents:

Civil society organisations and informal groups working on topics related to social development and public policies, active citizens, youth and professionals from different sectors, local communities, as well as institutions and other relevant stakeholders involved in dialogue, advocacy, and public policy-making processes.

About the project supported by Civica Mobilitas: Community Media for a Stronger Civil Society

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED SPECIFIC TOPIC

The action is aimed at developing and strengthening Community Media as a space for local information, civic participation, and activism. Through consolidation of existing editorial teams and creation of new collaborative networks of local journalists and civic activists, the project contributes to greater visibility of local issues and problems, as well as to the involvement of youth in processes of information-sharing and social engagement. The action combines capacity-building, networking, and recruitment of new participants, with the aim of long-term development of local, independent, and sustainable community media.

OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS

Overall objective:
To construct and consolidate local public spheres through structuring Community Media, where civil society activists, citizens from local communities, and local journalists will work in synergy, functioning as a catalyst for democratically driven social change.

Specific objectives:

To consolidate existing online Community Media in the Vardar, Eastern, and Pelagonia regions by strengthening the capacities of their editorial teams composed of local civic activists and local journalists
To create and activate collaborative networks of local journalists and local civic activists in the Southeast, Polog, Southwest, and Northeast regions, which will serve as a basis for establishing future Community Media editorial teams in these regions
To recruit young activists in seven planning regions to be involved in the editorial teams of Community Media within the Local Active Initiative

RESULTS

Consolidated existing Community Media in three regions in the country – Local Active East, Local Active Vardar, and Local Active Pelagonia, through strengthening their technical and organisational capacities, improving the scope of coverage of local community issues, clearer identification of local social demands, and enhancing the quality of their production
Increased visibility and strengthened visual identity of Community Media within the Local Active Initiative through enhanced presence on social media and implementation of online mini-campaigns promoting local social demands
Established foundations for long-term sustainability of the Local Active Initiative through identification of alternative funding sources, including local donors, public calls, and crowdfunding, as well as further development of the funding model for Community Media
Created and activated collaborative networks in four planning regions in the country where Community Media are not yet operational, through establishing structured communication with local journalists and civic activists and developing a cooperation methodology that will serve as a basis for future Community Media editorial teams
Recruited and trained young activists in four planning regions, involving between 10 and 20 young people in Community Media editorial teams, and delivered trainings on the functioning of the media self-regulatory body CMEM, media ethical standards, civic engagement, and analytical journalism

ACTIVITIES

Organisation and implementation of three one-day face-to-face working meetings of editorial teams of existing Community Media: Local Active East, Local Active Vardar, and Local Active Pelagonia
Analysis of previous production, functioning of advocacy activities, identification of challenges, and agreement on directions for independence of Community Media
Preparation of a policy document and development plan and advocacy focus for Local Active Community Media
Preparation and publication of six investigative stories (two in each of the Local Active East, Local Active Vardar, and Local Active Pelagonia media) on topics related to local-level corruption and environment
Involvement of young activists as assistants in the research process and editing and publishing investigative texts on Community Media platforms
Design and implementation of six mini online campaigns to promote research results and local social demands
Preparation and publication of infographics and advocacy messages on Community Media social media channels
Mapping and mobilisation of local journalists, civic activists, and organisations in the Polog, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast regions
Organisation of informational meetings and field visits to establish collaborative networks and analyse potential for development of Community Media
Delivery of trainings on ethical standards, self-regulation, and EU legal framework related to online media in four planning regions
Delivery of trainings on functioning of Community Media, editorial processes, collaborative production, and advocacy
Recruitment of young activists (18–30 years) in seven planning regions through universities, civil society organisations, and youth councils
Organisation of introductory meetings between young activists, local journalists, and editors to get acquainted and define roles
Delivery of trainings for youth on media ethics, self-regulation, civic engagement, and analytical journalism in four regions