The US embassy offers grants to journalists and CSOs from Benin
- Hubert Tomèga
- Dec 30, 2024
- 2 min read
The US Embassy in Benin through its Public Affairs department intends to end the spread of fake news in traditional media as well as online. Through orientation sessions held on 15 and 16 November 2018, respectively at the Maison des médias and the Infosec in Cotonou, the Public Affairs department of the Embassy informed journalists and civil society organizations about how to obtain new subsidies made available by the StatesUnited to discourage the dissemination of 'Fakes News' in the media and on social networks.
The best projects written by journalists and/or CSOs on the subject will be selected and funded. Seven best projects written by journalists and/or CSOs on fake news. This is the number of projects that the Public Affairs department of the US Embassy near Benin hopes to subsidize, in order to slow down the dissemination of 'Fakes News' in the media and on social networks at national level. Invited to the Media House on 15 November -journalists- and then to the Cotonou Infosec on 16 November-The SO, these citizen watch actors have been informed of the various subsidies that the USA grants to projects related to fake news in the media and on social networks.
A simplified two-step procedure to benefit from it
In two major phases, each session provided media professionals and CSOs with insight on how to benefit from this US grant. The first phase was led by Kanishka Gangopadhyay, Director of Public Affairs at the US Embassy, and focused on the context and objectives of the programme. According to the OECD, four main objectives underlie the award of grants. The first is to strengthen journalists' capacities in methods and resources for identifying fake news in traditional media, and online, as well as on social networks, including altered or manipulated images and videos. Second, to better inform the Beninese population on how to distinguish facts from misinformation, rumours and/or opinions shared in the media and on social media, the dangers associated with the creation and sharing of fake news, while advocating ethical behaviour online. Third, to create a website, an office, a consortium or a group with the necessary skills and resources to confirm the information disseminated on social networks or by the Beninese press. '
The second part of these discussions was the ultimate opportunity for the applicants to know the principle and the framework to borrow in order to benefit from this grant. According to Romaric Mouftaou, a member of the Embassy’s public affairs department, this grant is reserved for journalists and civil society organizations that have projects that fit into one of the program’s main objectives. According to his explanations, the duration of the grants is one year and will be effective from February 2019. ' Application forms must be written in English and the cost of the project in dollars, all to be sent on the US Embassy’s web platform no later than December 31, 2018', he reminded the audience.
Good luck to the applicants.
Par Hubert Tomèga
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