Investigative Network Albania represents an initiative supported by the United States Embassy in Tirana and jointly implemented by the Albanian Center for Quality Journalism, the Albanian Media Institute and the FOL Center. 

This initiative aims to improve the media landscape and support independent professionals in the field by broadening their perspectives and presenting a pluralistic context that increases transparency and accountability, while at the same time highlighting corruption and other issues in the daily lives of Albania. The program's mission is to empower and enrich the media landscape by fostering independent journalism and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability. Through collaborative efforts, we aim to improve journalistic standards and broaden perspectives within the field. By providing platforms for investigative journalism, financial grants and supporting resources, we seek to highlight issues of corruption and social relevance, thereby contributing to the development of a more informed and engaged public.

Investigative Journalism Platform

INA.media serves as an alternative information space for Albanian society, producing independent and professional content. It shares all research articles and relevant information, also serving as a tool for amplifying the public message. The platform contains spaces dedicated to different forms of production, from long-form research articles to analysis of the media sphere in Albania, research documentaries, as well as a space dedicated to the productions of partner organizations.

Small Grants for Journalists

The focus of the initiative is on supporting independent journalists to conduct research that puts state accountability and corruption-related issues on the media agenda, raising public awareness of these issues. The grant scheme includes financial support for:

• Individual Articles;
• Local Cooperations;
• International Cooperations;
• Thematic Series of Research Articles;
• Analytical Articles; AND
• Documentaries.

Grants for Media NGOs and Television Networks

The program aims to promote the voice of civil society through the strengthening of NGOs that focus on media and reaching a wider audience through these organizations and Albanian television networks. The scheme provides financial support to media-focused NGOs to cover the costs of planned activities, enabling them to cover a wider range of costs than individual journalists and provide unique knowledge and expertise in the production process, while for television networks, the program aims to cover production costs for investigative programs on a wide range of topics. This element of the scheme aims to increase the interest of the national visual media to create analytical and investigative programs that illuminate and provide a deeper look at issues of great public importance, currently underrepresented in the audiovisual media.

For more information on the program and financial assistance opportunities, click here.