Academic Freedom, Russian Independent Media Archive

Russian Independent Media Archive (RIMA) Course Development Fund

The Russian Independent Media Archive (RIMA) is excited to announce an opportunity for established scholars and graduate students who are committed to the preservation of media free from the constraint of the Russian State.

The RIMA Course Development Fund offers four $2,000 (before tax) grants to faculty members integrating RIMA into their curricula. These grants are designed to support the creation of innovative courses that utilize RIMA's resources to foster critical thinking, media literacy, and a deeper understanding of independent journalism under authoritarian regimes. Faculty members awarded these grants will have the opportunity to contribute to the preservation and dissemination of Russian independent media, helping to shape the next generation of scholars, journalists, and activists.

Launched in 2023, RIMA’s digital archive currently includes 98 media outlets and millions of documents from the year 2000 onward, guarding this irreplaceable historical record against erasure, as independent media outlets not aligned with the regime of President Vladimir Putin are shuttered and their reporters and editors are cast into exile. A joint Project of PEN America and Bard College, the archive makes journalism of this pivotal period accessible to the reporters, historians, political scientists and other researchers who will make sense of Russia’s past and whose work counters propaganda-driven manipulation of the historical narrative.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Open to faculty members at accredited institutions.
• A proposal that clearly demonstrates how RIMA will be integrated into course content.
• A commitment to promoting media literacy and critical engagement with independent journalism.
• Ability to collaborate with Bard College, PEN America, and other RIMA stakeholders.
• Compliance with all local and U.S. laws for receiving funds.

Preference will be given to proposals that incorporate RIMA into their courses on a regular basis, ensuring its continued use in teaching for years to come.

Applications are being accepted in both English and Russian. Review of applications will take place on a rolling basis with priority given to submissions made prior to October 28th, 2024. Notification of awards will be made on or before December 1st, 2024.

Deadline to apply extended to Friday, November 1

Apply here

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Cross Reference: Application, Grant,Opportunities,Academic Freedom, Russian Independent Media Archive