With over 270 million people and one of the world’s largest social media user bases, Indonesia’s citizens consume media content from a wide array of traditional and digital sources. As the country continues to expand its regional leadership role, Indonesian journalists must develop their capacity to report accurately and comprehensively on critical issues, including democratic governance, foreign policy, transnational security threats, economic development, and emerging technologies.
For purposes of this solicitation, activities that involve identifying false or misleading information should focus on objectively verifiable factual claims, coordinated information manipulation, or manipulated digital media (including deepfakes and coordinated inauthentic behavior). Applicant should not classify policy disagreements, political viewpoints, or criticism of governments as misinformation or disinformation solely because they differ from official positions.
This program addresses Indonesia’s growing demand for professional capacity building in journalism across multiple strategic domains. By equipping journalists with advanced skills in media literacy, fact-checking, data journalism, policy analysis, and critical thinking on issues that shape Indonesia’s future and role in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States strengthens the capacity of journalists to deliver accurate and in-depth coverage on domestic, regional, and international issues. The program amplifies credible local voices, expands audience access to independent sources of information, and empowers the public to better navigate Indonesia’s increasingly complex information environment.
Primary Audience:
- Journalists from print, broadcast, and digital media working across Indonesia
- Newsroom editors and managers
- News content creators
- Participants must be Indonesian citizens or residents
Secondary Audience:
- University students majoring in mass communication
- University students who are part of campus media
- Indonesian media organizations and journalism associations
Project Goal
Strengthen the capacity of Indonesian journalists to deliver accurate, in-depth, and credible coverage of democratic governance, security issues, economic affairs, and emerging technologies that empowers an informed citizenry. The program demonstrates the U.S. commitment to strengthening democratic governance, freedom of expression, digital freedom, and information integrity in Indonesia. Investing in Indonesian journalists directly advances U.S. foreign policy priorities by expanding access to accurate information, exposing falsehoods, and strengthening information integrity in the Indonesian media environment.
A successful program would equip Indonesian journalists with advanced skills in media literacy, fact-checking, digital verification, data journalism, and critical information evaluation. Participants would deepen their understanding of democratic systems, U.S. foreign policy, transnational security issues such as IUU fishing and maritime security, and Indo-Pacific geopolitics, enabling more informed and analytical reporting on issues central to Indonesia’s national interests, the U.S.-Indonesia bilateral relationship, and security and economic issues for the Indo-Pacific region. The program would generate multiplier effects by empowering participants to train colleagues and promote best practices within their own newsrooms and communities.
Project Objectives: The project objectives are the specific and measurable results PDS aims to achieve through this project. They describe necessary and pre-requisite changes required to move closer to achieving the project goal.
● Objective 1 – Equip a minimum of 500 Indonesian journalists from print, broadcast, and digital media across Indonesia with advanced skills in media literacy, fact-checking, digital verification, data journalism, and critical information evaluation through the U.S.-Indonesia Journalism Excellence Academy and regional capacity-building workshops, as measured by pre- and post-training competency assessments demonstrating skill improvement among at least 70 percent of participants.
● Objective 2 – Increase participants’ knowledge of democratic systems, U.S. foreign policy, transnational security issues, and Indo-Pacific geopolitics, enabling more informed and analytical reporting.
● Objective 3 – Deliver at least eight regional capacity-building workshops in Jakarta, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and/or other areas with active local media environments, reaching approximately 40 journalists per workshop (approximately 320 additional journalists), with at least 70 percent of workshop participants reporting increased confidence in applying at least one new skill or tool within their newsroom within three months of training completion.
● Objective 4 – Build a cohort of journalism leaders capable of training colleagues and promoting best practices, with at least 50 percent of the Academy participants committing to in-newsroom training, mentorship, or follow-up projects within six months of program completion, as documented through post-program follow-up surveys or verified activity reports submitted to the Embassy.
2. Substantial Involvement
This award will be a cooperative agreement. In consultation with U.S. Embassy Jakarta, the award recipient must actively engage with and manage the details of the training as well as communication with participating Indonesian journalists and other collaborators/partners.
U.S. Embassy Roles and Responsibilities:
Working closely with the award recipient, U.S. Embassy Jakarta will be involved in:
- Consultation on the development of the scheduled program and conference
- Review and approval of training locations
- Participation in the selection of participants
- Review and approval of the agenda and content of activities (training modules, workshops, practical exercises, panel discussions, mentorship, etc.)
- Coordination with U.S. experts from ECA’s U.S. Speaker Program roster
- Review and approval of social media, traditional media, and other publicity content
- Review and approval of final program materials, photos, and videos
- Methodology Standards: The Embassy will ensure that all fact-checking and counter-narrative activities adhere to a verifiability standard — focusing on demonstrably false factual claims and technically inauthentic content. PAS will review and approve the recipient’s fact-checking methodology prior to program launch to ensure it does not conflate policy disagreement with misinformation or disinformation.
Recipient Roles and Responsibilities:
· Plan and execute the U.S.-Indonesia Journalism Excellence Academy program and Media Dialogue including venue coordination, expert sourcing, agenda development, and logistical support
· Plan and execute regional workshops, including participant recruitment, trainer coordination, and practical training session management
· Develop and manage training content, including modules, exercises, and resource materials on media literacy and factchecking
· Lead outreach and communications, including marketing materials, promotional campaigns, and social media strategy
· Information Verification Standards: The Recipient shall ensure that any fact-checking, verification, or information integrity activities supported under this award rely on objectively verifiable evidence and recognized investigative methodologies, including technical approaches for identifying manipulated or AI-generated content. The Recipient shall not characterize policy disagreement or differing political viewpoints as misinformation or disinformation solely because they differ from U.S. Government or other political positions.