The Promoting New Media and Media Convergence in Russia (PNMC) program trains and encourages Russian media professionals, citizen journalists, NGO leaders and educators to use new media technology more effectively and develop new tools to succeed in the digital age.
The four-year program, funded by USAID, builds on a previous media partnerships program [5] in Russia [4] and advances ongoing efforts to support a more robust and resilient media sector in the country.
In accordance with the closure of USAID in Russia at the directive of the Government of Russia, IREX has suspended the Promoting New Media and Media Convergence program effective October 1, 2012. Please contact IREX at info@irex.org [6] with any questions.
• Support production of new media content by professional and citizen journalists at independent outlets
• Provide public advocacy, media monitoring and legal support to new media development practitioners
• Promote regional new media initiatives and international partnerships that effectively address issues of media convergence and new media development
Citizen journalism in Russia has exploded in recent years, with 46 million Internet users, blogs, online distribution platforms and sources of information encroaching in on the role of traditional media outlets. Despite this, there remains a shortfall in strong and credible content, an uneven adoption of multimedia approaches, and poor integration of citizen journalism into traditional media.
While a strong community of Moscow-based bloggers, the so-called "Livejournal TOP," often sets the agenda for traditional media, the messages are scarcer and weaker in rural areas. Even popular regional bloggers need guidance and advice to make their texts more balanced, ethical, objective and independent.
Journalists need support in learning Internet-specific skills while managers of traditional media in the regions will benefit from understanding how their media can become more interactive. Training to integrate citizen-generated multimedia content and increase revenue through online tools are vital if the professional independent media is to survive.
Russian journalists and bloggers use training, technical guidance and technical support to create multimedia content. Actions and products include: new media trainings for regional journalists; a multimedia scholarship program for selected journalists, media managers and citizen activists; Internet broadcasting training; an educational resource portal to be incorporated with all program components and the LiveJournal platform; training on journalism values and online tools; and newsroom internships for citizen bloggers.
Support of advocacy efforts, media monitoring, and provide legal support to ensure Russia's content producers have resources to protect the free flow of information and ideas. Traditional and new media outlets will incorporate new media tools and media convergence into their online products. PNMC and its partners will provide trainings on new legislation, Internet freedom, lobbying, and protection of journalists for media lawyers. IREX will establish a Media Lawyers Center, an informal network of Internet freedom advocates.
Partnerships and new media initiatives to introduce and strengthen concepts of media convergence in Russia. IREX will establish and foster partnerships between Russian and international organizations. Small grants and incubator funds for new media convergence in Russia's regions will be created to support new media initiatives in areas such as adding interactive elements to local news websites, newsgathering through social media, engaging citizen and professional journalists in joint projects and deploying new media tools.