Initiative for Media Quality and Resilience (IMQR): Next Chapter in Media Empowerment

The project builds on the achievements of the ongoing Initiative for Media Quality and Resilience (IMQR) which has been implemented by the same partners since 2024. For implementing this project, MIC leads a consortium, the members of which are Yerevan Press Club, Media Diversity Institute and Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression.

IMQR Next further enhances the capacity and resilience of Armenian media to act as trusted, independent, and effective actors. The assistance includes training courses, consultations, and financial support to strengthen their ability to improve the quality and impact of media content.

Furthermore, the project helps foster an enabling environment for independent media by contributing to legislative reform and media policy development. A comprehensive package of mutually reinforcing activities supports efforts to strengthen audience trust by advancing and institutionalising robust self-regulation mechanisms that are grounded in clear ethical standards, such as integrity, transparency, and accountability.

The project protects the rights of journalists and media outlets, both in their professional activities and during legal proceedings. It provides safety and security training, thereby safeguarding the digital presence of media outlets and equipping journalists with tools and skills to overcome hybrid threats. IMQR Next also promotes media and information literacy by empowering diverse audience groups to navigate an increasingly complex and polarised information space.

The components of this 30-month-long project are:

• media consumption surveys, and media monitoring;
• professional development courses and workshops about quality and ethical reporting, and new tools, and media tours;
• content production and strategic development grants;
• fostering fact-checking in newsrooms;
• Media.am analytical platform;
• journalism awards;
• strengthening and promoting the Media Ethics Observatory through awareness raising and capacity building;
• strengthening newsrooms through internal policies and introducing ombudsman’s institute;
• legislative and policy initiatives, and advocacy.

The budget of the project is 1,100,737 EUR, of which 970,000 is provided by the European Union, and 130,737 is the co-funding of the consortium member organizations.

The “Initiative for Media Quality and Resilience: Next Chapter in Media Empowerment” project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Media Initiatives Center in collaboration with Yerevan Press Club, Media Diversity Institute – Armenia, and Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression.