The Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society announces a Regional Call for Investigative Journalism Stories within the Project “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: Exposing Malign Influences through Data-Driven Watchdog Journalism” (antidisinfo.net/hub).
1. Subject
Within the parameters of this Call, applicant/applicants (individuals or legal entities) will be chosen to undertake responsibility for the creation of during the period of July to November 2025:
– 1 (one) or more investigative story/stories
A description of the subject of the call is given below, in the Detailed Overview of the applicant’s Obligations and Timeline of the Engagement, which is an integral part of this Call.
1.1. Topic of the investigative story/stories
Identify, follow and investigate the sources and flow of disinformation in the Western Balkan region. Research the relationships with anti-democratic and corruptive structures and their influence.
The journalist investigations need to uncover issues of public interest, including map the local and foreign actors involved in production and distribution of disinformation related to spreading antidemocratic narratives in the Western Balkans region, within the context of Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference (FIMI) aimed at undermining Euro-Atlantic integration and functioning of democratic institutions in particular country, cross border between two or more counties, or across the whole region.
The generated knowledge from these investigative stories supplements the public record and will contribute to public discussion towards the need and obligation of the EU candidate countries to build mechanisms for resilience to harmful impact of disinformation, as noted within EU acquis (Chapters 23 and 31) – the areas of freedom of expression and foreign, security and defense policies.
Examples of such content and supplementary materials are available at antidisinfo.net.
2. Registration conditions
Legal entities and individuals who offer services in the field of investigative journalism and research have the right to apply for this Call. Individuals can also apply as teams (informal groups).
The legal entities and individuals should reside or have specific knowledge of the current developments in any of the countries in the Western Balkans region (North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro).
2.1. Individual investigative journalists must meet the following conditions:
To have relevant professional experience in journalism (minimum 5 years of experience in a newsroom and/or media organization) and to submit a list of previously prepared and published content (including but not limited to investigative stories)
2.2. Legal entities should meet the following criteria:
– Personal condition of the applicant:
– – In the last 5 years, the applicant has not been sentenced for participating in a criminal organization, corruption, fraud or money laundering;
– – The applicant has not been imposed a secondary penalty, a temporary or permanent ban on performing a separate activity;
– – The applicant is not in bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings;
– – The applicant has no unpaid taxes, contributions or other public charges;
– – The applicant has not been sentenced with a misdemeanor sanction – a ban on performing a profession, activity or duty, that is, a temporary ban on performing a separate activity.
The applicant confirms the fulfillment of the criteria for determining personal status with a statement submitted in addition to the offer (the statement is attached to this tender documentation – Annex 2).
In addition to the statement, the applicant does not have to submit documents to prove his personal status together with the bid. The Commission may ask the selected applicant to submit the necessary documents to determine the personal situation for verification of these criteria.
2.2.2. Technical ability
The applicant must meet the following minimum conditions:
– To have relevant professional experience in journalism and conducting investigative stories, and to submit a list of previously prepared and published content (including but not limited to investigative stories)
3. Deadline and method of registration
The offers, together with the list of previously prepared and published content (including but not limited to investigative stories), should be submitted via e-mail to the following e-mail address: info@metamorphosis.org.mk no later than Јune 30th, 2025, with the Subject “Application for Investigative story”. All application documents should be submitted in English. Applications that contain incomplete or untidy documentation, are not in English, as well as applications submitted after the deadline established in this Call, will not be considered. Metamorphosis Foundation reserves the right to contact only selected candidates.
The Regional Call and Attachments required for applying:
– Regional Call for Investigative Journalism
