Expected Outcomes:
· Improved understanding of online media paid political advertising practices and compliance with existing regulatory frameworks among electoral stakeholders.
· Advocacy and information sharing increase awareness and buy-in for recommendations on strengthening online media environment among stakeholders.
Project Activities:
· Methodology for Monitoring Election Coverage of Online News Portals during Electoral Processes and the list of portals to be monitored.
· Raw Database; Preliminary Monitoring Report; Draft Report from the monitoring; Final Report from the monitoring, including recommendations and policy briefs; Digital publication of final report.
· At least 12 watchdog journalism articles, including fact-checks debunking breaches of Code of Conduct during election period and articles about consequences and election reforms related to advocacy activities of the project; and 2 investigative journalistic stories on impact of campaign financing, transparency and accountability of spending public money on election activities.
· Policy brief on internet portals’ use of state campaign funds and the political finance framework.
· Policy brief on promoting inclusive coverage of women in online media during elections.
· Policy brief on promoting fair, balanced, and unbiased representation of vulnerable groups in online media during elections.
· At least one news item/announcement per major deliverable (reports, policy briefs, events, shows) produced and translated into Macedonian, Albanian and English, and disseminated via media, wider media network and via social media.
· Three video talk shows produced and broadcasted.
· Four journalist briefings held.
Project duration: 15 April 2024 – 28 February 2025
The project “Money, media, and elections in North Macedonia” is supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO) of the Government of the United Kingdom and implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society, Skopje.
