Balkan Voices 2
Goals
A project
Supported by
Presentation
The phenomenon of disinformation, which was already considered endemic throughout the Western Balkans, has significantly gained pace in recent years, largely as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Balkan Voices 2 helps young people in the Balkans to express themselves in the media by strengthening media literacy among young people. This project also trains future journalists to fight disinformation and deal with common regional issues. It builds on the achievements of the Balkan Voices project to encourage the participation of high school students and journalism students in an informed and inclusive regional dialogue.
Project beneficiaries
- High school students and journalism students
- Trainers, secondary school teachers and local journalism school teachers
- Active bloggers
Files to download
Actions
Strengthening media and information literacy for young audiences
- Interactive training in fact-checking, source analysis and understanding media biases;
- Content production workshops to allow young people to participate in a competition organised as part of the Printemps de la Francophonie (Francophone Spring).
Northern Macedonia: how to teach French while supporting media education?
Giving young people a voice – journalism workshops and regional competition in the Western Balkans
Combating disinformation: Summer University on Fact-Checking unites journalists from the Western Balkans
Media and Information Literacy Training continues in North Macedonia
Imagining Europe: Voices from Montenegro’s next generation
Refresher on professional practices for future journalists
The introduction of summer schools, master classes and study visits for journalism students and teachers in journalism schools, on topics such as the environment, gender and the European integration of the Western Balkan countries.
Balkans: join the Summer University on Fact-Checking and Source Verification!
Young journalists from the Western Balkans on a study visit to Paris and Brussels
Talmil Platform update
Updating and enriching the content of the Talmil online platform, which serves as an educational resource for young people by providing verified information and encouraging responsible use of social media.
Promotion of French language and culture and European openness
CFI launches “Balkan Voices” platform to strengthen media literacy in the Western Balkans
Balkan Voices 2 adopted a multi-level intervention logic, recognizing that disinformation cannot be effectively addressed through a single-entry point. Instead, the project sought to intervene at different stages of the information ecosystem by combining education-focused activities for youth and teachers with professional and academic support for future journalists, journalism educators, and media organizations.
The project also aimed to strengthen regional dialogue and cooperation.
Across stakeholder groups and countries, the evaluation found strong alignment between the project’s objectives and needs identified in the Western Balkans. Disinformation, low levels of media and information literacy, and limited critical engagement with digital content emerged as shared challenges affecting students, educators, journalists, and civil society actors.
The project demonstrated a clear internal logic by addressing disinformation through complementary educational and professional entry points. Stakeholders recognized the value of combining youth-focused activities with support for future journalists and educators.
The evaluation concludes that Balkan Voices 2 delivered a relevant and timely response to shared challenges related to disinformation, media literacy, and journalism capacity in the Western Balkans. The project demonstrated strong thematic alignment, high-quality implementation, and meaningful short- term outcomes for a wide range of beneficiaries.
The regional approach added value by fostering dialogue, peer learning, and professional networks across fragmented information environments. The evaluation confirms that short-term interventions alone cannot yield durable systemic change without stronger institutional anchoring, broader system-level mechanisms for sustained learning, and follow-up mechanisms.
The project laid important foundations for longer-term impact, particularly in professional and academic contexts.
Impact emerged primarily at individual, professional, and organizational levels.
Young participants demonstrated increased awareness and critical questioning of information sources: they applied new skills in academic and professional contexts. Teachers and journalism educators adjusted teaching practices and content. Subgrant beneficiaries strengthened capacity, reach, and resilience, particularly in politically sensitive environments.
Balkan voices 2: evaluation summary 2026
Balkan voices 2: evaluation 2026
