Building Cross-Sectoral Partnerships and Alliances in the Digital Space

Key points by Ioanna Georgia Eskiadi

In this webinar we discussed cross-sectoral projects which involve non-profits, journalists, influencers, and governments.

• Find a common language, values, and interests to share.
• Be flexible and prepare for challenges.
• Develop partnerships with individual organizations to achieve a common goal.
• Exchange ideas, information, and services.
• Build sustainable partnerships between non-profit organizations and governments.
• Partnerships between journalists and organizations.
• Collaboration of NGOs and influencers can be effective.
• Digital campaigns — a way to achieve our goals.
• Find ways to reach younger audiences.
• Partnerships with local influencers and local organizations.

International media, like USAGM, work with local and regional NGOs in Europe and worldwide to engage and connect people around the world and support democracy. One way to reach more people is by broadcasting in numerous countries through partnerships, and providing content in different languages. USAGM partnerships involve the mutual exchange of ideas, information, and services, and some may involve funding. “USAGM no-cost partnerships with the U.S. Government agencies, international, non-governmental and private organizations help building media capacity globally. We are doing media conferences/training programs with DCN, IREX, OWLC, Freedom House, FRF, MIC,” says Inna Dubinsky. Collaborations strengthen democracy and civil society, nationally and regionally, by providing media training to professionals and citizen journalists, co-hosting journalism conferences, conducting media literacy programs for citizens, co-producing investigative reports. They also establish extensive and powerful networks that connect international organizations, national leadership, journalists, and active citizenry as a foundation of open democratic society.

IREX programs focus on journalism trainings, citizen journalism support, media studies, and digital safety. In the vibrant information space of the digital age all of us are content creators. “We are facing rapid technological changes related to information flow, new opportunities for sharing information across borders and new threats to individual privacy and security”, says Michael Mirny. Media digital literacy is critical, so we must have NGOs, civil society, government understand who you can trust. IREX organizes media literacy programs to teach the basics of fact-checking and reading the news. Partnerships are important so people become media literate and raise awareness.

Another form of partnerships is between NGOs and influencers, like GLOBSEC, who involve digital influencers in anti-disinformation campaigns. Influencers are credible voices and people want to hear them. “We cooperated with stand-up comedians and bloggers, YouTubers and Vloggers, Rappers, so as to reach the young audience and inform them about the importance of fact-checking”, says Katarina Klingova. In partnerships, it is important to think outside of the box, to know your audience, and to find the right voices for the right audience. Campaigns with digital influencers help with content creation, community building, training and knowledge exchange, campaigns with social impact, and marketing and distribution.

This event is part of Digital Communication Network Southeast Europe hub’s Ideas in Action — Digital Engagement, a series of virtual events launched in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The series aims to engage digital communities globally, to promote accurate information, combat distortions, encourage responsible behavior, and discourage panic, support mitigation of a global pandemic, and avoid major societal disruptions.

DCN SOUTHEAST EUROPE HUB is a consortium of Aristotle University, Digital Communication Network, non-profits, public and private organizations and companies involved in the fields of digital communication, social impact campaigns, technology, and innovation. It is a unique, interdisciplinary coalition tapping into the best talent and resources across Europe.

The webinar is produced by Digital Communication Network, a diverse professional coalition in the digital space.