Opportunity Information: Apply for C NOFO 18 103
The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, offered a discretionary grant opportunity called "Countering Disinformation in South India: A Regional Media Literacy Initiative" (Funding Opportunity Number: C NOFO 18 103; CFDA 19.040). The project was designed around a practical reality in South India: for roughly 170 million people across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, regional-language television, radio, print, and digital outlets are the main way people get news and information. Because many existing tools and trainings on misinformation and disinformation are produced in English and may not be easily accessible or tailored to regional-language newsrooms, the program specifically targeted media professionals working in regional languages.
The core activity funded under the grant was the organization of four separate, two-day workshops held in major regional media hubs across South India. The structure required at least one workshop each in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, with a fourth workshop to round out regional coverage. Each workshop was expected to train and upskill a cohort of about 10 to 15 media professionals, prioritizing reporters, editors, producers, and other practitioners who create or shape content in local languages and who can translate new skills into their daily newsroom routines.
A key operational detail was participant support for travel. The grant budget was expected to cover travel, lodging, and per diem for up to three participants per workshop (up to 12 participants total) who would be coming from outside the host city. This feature was meant to help ensure the workshops did not only benefit professionals who happen to live in major urban centers, but also included journalists from smaller cities and different parts of the region who may otherwise be unable to attend.
Programmatically, the workshops were intended to be hands-on and skill-focused, centering on how to identify, analyze, and counter misinformation and disinformation in the regional media environment. The workshops were to be co-led by American and Indian subject matter experts, reflecting an emphasis on combining international best practices with local context, language realities, and the specific ways false narratives spread in South Indian information ecosystems. Beyond training sessions and practical exercises, the design also called for structured time for participants to develop action plans they could take back to their own outlets, so the impact would extend beyond individual learning and support newsroom-level changes in verification practices and editorial decision-making.
The opportunity also encouraged engagement with social media platform representatives when feasible, either as presenters or participants, particularly from companies that acknowledge the disinformation problem and are working to mitigate it. This element recognized that a large share of misinformation distribution and amplification occurs through social platforms, and that collaboration or direct dialogue with platform stakeholders can help journalists better understand reporting tools, platform policies, and available mechanisms for flagging or reducing harmful content.
Eligibility for applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The anticipated award information indicated a single award with an award ceiling of $55,000, and the timeline showed the opportunity was posted on July 3, 2018, with an original closing date of August 2, 2018. Overall, the grant was framed as a capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening regional-language journalism and media literacy defenses against misinformation and disinformation across South India through targeted, locally relevant professional training.Apply for C NOFO 18 103
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering Disinformation in South India: A Regional Media Literacy Initiative" 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 Jul 03, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 02, 2018. (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 $55,000.00 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 (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Countering Disinformation in South India: A Regional Media Literacy Initiative."
Which U.S. government office offered this grant?
The grant was offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is C NOFO 18 103.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.040.
What problem was this project designed to address?
The project focused on building capacity to identify, analyze, and counter misinformation and disinformation in South India, especially within regional-language media environments where most audiences rely on local-language TV, radio, print, and digital outlets for news.
Why did the program focus on regional-language media professionals?
The opportunity was designed around the practical reality that many existing misinformation/disinformation tools and trainings are produced in English and may not be accessible or well-tailored to regional-language newsrooms. The program therefore targeted professionals working in local languages to make training more relevant and usable in day-to-day newsroom work.
Which parts of India were specifically referenced as the target region?
The opportunity referenced South India including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, representing a combined audience of roughly 170 million people who rely heavily on regional-language media.
What was the main activity funded under the grant?
The core funded activity was the organization of four separate workshops, each lasting two days, held in major regional media hubs across South India.
How many workshops were required, and where were they expected to take place?
The structure called for four workshops total, with at least one workshop each in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. A fourth workshop was included to round out regional coverage.
How long was each workshop expected to be?
Each workshop was expected to run for two days.
How many participants were expected per workshop?
Each workshop was expected to train a cohort of about 10 to 15 media professionals.
Who were the intended participants for the workshops?
The workshops prioritized media professionals working in regional languages, including reporters, editors, producers, and other practitioners who create or shape content in local languages and can apply skills directly within newsroom routines.
Did the grant include support for participant travel?
Yes. The grant budget was expected to cover travel, lodging, and per diem for participants who were coming from outside the host city, within specified limits.
How many participants could receive travel, lodging, and per diem support?
The budget was expected to cover travel, lodging, and per diem for up to three participants per workshop, for a maximum of 12 participants total across all four workshops.
Why was travel support included in the design?
Travel support was intended to broaden access so the workshops would not only benefit professionals who live in major urban centers, but also include journalists from smaller cities and other parts of the region who might otherwise be unable to attend.
What topics or skills were the workshops intended to cover?
The workshops were intended to be hands-on and skill-focused, centered on practical methods to identify, analyze, and counter misinformation and disinformation in the regional media environment.
Were the workshops expected to be practical rather than purely lecture-based?
Yes. The design emphasized hands-on learning and practical exercises, aimed at upskilling participants in ways they can apply directly to newsroom work.
Who was expected to lead the workshops?
The workshops were to be co-led by American and Indian subject matter experts, combining international best practices with local context and language realities.
What was the purpose of having both American and Indian experts?
The intent was to blend international best practices with a strong understanding of local context, including regional language needs and the specific ways false narratives spread in South Indian information ecosystems.
Were participants expected to produce any take-home outputs from the workshops?
Yes. The design called for structured time for participants to develop action plans they could take back to their outlets, supporting follow-through and encouraging newsroom-level changes in verification and editorial decision-making.
How was the program intended to create impact beyond individual attendees?
By having participants develop action plans for their home outlets and emphasizing skills that can be integrated into daily newsroom routines, the initiative aimed to influence broader practices such as verification workflows and editorial decisions, not just individual knowledge.
Did the opportunity encourage involvement from social media platforms?
Yes. The opportunity encouraged engagement with social media platform representatives when feasible, either as presenters or participants.
What types of social media companies were suggested for engagement?
The opportunity particularly encouraged engagement with companies that acknowledge the disinformation problem and are working to mitigate it.
Why was engagement with social media platforms considered relevant?
The grant design recognized that a significant share of misinformation distribution and amplification occurs through social platforms, and that direct dialogue can help journalists understand reporting tools, platform policies, and mechanisms for flagging or reducing harmful content.
Who was eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility included: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?
The opportunity indicated an anticipated total of a single award.
What was the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling was listed as $55,000.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 3, 2018.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date was August 2, 2018.
How was this grant described in terms of purpose and approach?
The grant was framed as a capacity-building initiative to strengthen regional-language journalism and media literacy defenses against misinformation and disinformation across South India through targeted, locally relevant professional training.
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