Opportunity Information: Apply for M NOFO 20 103
The "Stopping the Spread of Disinformation - Training Emerging Journalists" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: M NOFO 20 103) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to India grant/cooperative agreement focused on strengthening the ability of emerging journalists in India to recognize, counter, and prevent the spread of disinformation through accurate, credible, and compelling reporting. The program is designed as a practical capacity-building effort that builds on the Mission's prior work in this area, with an emphasis on creating stronger counter-voices within the Indian information environment, particularly in western and southern India.
At its core, the project aims to reinforce the idea that journalists serve as gatekeepers of truth and have a responsibility to the public to verify information before amplifying it. The funding supports training that equips participants with real-world skills to identify disinformation, understand how it spreads, and respond effectively through responsible journalism practices. Rather than treating disinformation as an abstract problem, the program frames it as a professional challenge that journalists can actively confront through better tools, stronger editorial judgment, and improved reporting techniques that prioritize evidence and context.
The target audience is early to mid-career journalists as well as journalism students, with "journalist" broadly defined to include professionals working across television, print, and online news outlets. The program expects to reach at least 100 participants through multiple multi-day workshops. These workshops are to be taught by a mix of U.S. and local experts, which suggests a blend of international best practices and local media realities, including the specific ways misinformation and disinformation manifest in different regional and linguistic contexts.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of State (CFDA number 19.040), with eligible applicants including U.S.-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. The award ceiling is USD 75,000, and the opportunity anticipates making one award, indicating a single implementing organization will likely be responsible for designing and delivering the trainings, recruiting participants, coordinating expert trainers, and meeting any reporting and performance requirements attached to the award.
The opportunity was created on March 26, 2020, with an original closing date of May 22, 2020. Anyone looking for the full technical requirements, selection criteria, or required proposal components is directed to the complete announcement under the "related documents" section referenced in the notice.Apply for M NOFO 20 103
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the community development, consumer protection, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Stopping the Spread of Disinformation - Training Emerging Journalists" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 26, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Stopping the Spread of Disinformation - Training Emerging Journalists (M NOFO 20 103)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Stopping the Spread of Disinformation - Training Emerging Journalists."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is M NOFO 20 103.
Which U.S. government entity is offering this funding?
This is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to India.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The notice describes it as a grant/cooperative agreement opportunity.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program aims to strengthen the ability of emerging journalists in India to recognize, counter, and prevent the spread of disinformation through accurate, credible, and compelling reporting.
How does the program approach the problem of disinformation?
The program treats disinformation as a practical, professional challenge journalists can confront by improving verification habits, editorial judgment, and reporting techniques that prioritize evidence and context.
What role does the program emphasize for journalists?
It reinforces the idea that journalists act as gatekeepers of truth and have a responsibility to verify information before amplifying it to the public.
Who is the target audience for the trainings?
The target audience includes early to mid-career journalists and journalism students.
How is "journalist" defined for this opportunity?
The term is defined broadly to include professionals working across television, print, and online news outlets.
How many participants is the program expected to reach?
The program expects to reach at least 100 participants.
What training format is expected under this award?
The notice calls for multiple multi-day workshops.
Who is expected to teach the workshops?
The workshops are to be taught by a mix of U.S. and local experts.
Why does the opportunity include both U.S. and local experts?
Based on the description, this suggests a blend of international best practices and local media realities, including how misinformation and disinformation can differ across regional and linguistic contexts.
What geographic focus does the program emphasize within India?
The opportunity particularly emphasizes building stronger counter-voices within the Indian information environment in western and southern India.
Does this program build on previous work?
Yes. The notice states it is designed to build on the Mission's prior work in this area.
What kinds of skills or capabilities is the training expected to strengthen?
The training is intended to equip participants with real-world skills to identify disinformation, understand how it spreads, and respond effectively through responsible journalism practices.
What is the funding type from an administrative standpoint?
The notice describes it as a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of State.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.040.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding?
Eligible applicants include U.S.-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are higher education institutions allowed to apply?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants. However, the notice also specifies that eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits exclude higher education institutions.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is USD 75,000.
How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates making one award.
What does it mean that only one award is anticipated?
It indicates that a single implementing organization will likely be responsible for designing and delivering the trainings, recruiting participants, coordinating expert trainers, and meeting any reporting and performance requirements tied to the award.
What are some of the key activities the implementing organization would likely need to handle?
Based on the notice, responsibilities would likely include designing and delivering multi-day workshops, recruiting at least 100 participants, coordinating U.S. and local expert trainers, and meeting reporting and performance requirements associated with the award.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The notice states it was created on March 26, 2020.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed is May 22, 2020.
Where should applicants look for full technical requirements and proposal details?
The notice directs applicants to the complete announcement under the "related documents" section for technical requirements, selection criteria, and required proposal components.
Does the notice include the selection criteria or required proposal components?
No. It indicates those details are available in the complete announcement referenced under "related documents."
What is the core expected outcome of the trainings?
The described outcome is stronger capacity among emerging journalists to counter disinformation by producing reporting that is accurate, credible, compelling, and grounded in verification, evidence, and context.
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