Connecting Futures: Information Integrity in Europe’s Next Decade

Empowering Young Media and Digital Voices from the EU’s Enlargement Region

About the Initiative

What if you could help shape the future of the information space in Europe’s enlargement region? What if your voice and your ideas could strengthen democratic resilience against disinformation and foreign information manipulation? If you are a media professional, social media influencer, or online content creator from one of the EU enlargement countries, this is your opportunity to take part in a new cross-European dialogue on the future of information integrity.

“Connecting Futures” is a new initiative by the Aspen Institute Germany, organised in cooperation with Aspen Digital, the Aspen Institute Romania, the Aspen Institute Central Europe, the Aspen Institute Kyiv, and the Aspen Institute UK.

Context

Across the EU enlargement region – including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine – the information environment is under increasing pressure. Political polarization, declining trust in traditional media, and growing media capture leave societies more vulnerable to manipulation by both domestic and foreign actors. At the same time, emerging technologies are accelerating the spread of disinformation and reshaping how information circulates. These trends threaten democratic resilience and risk undermining progress toward EU integration.

What the Program Offers

Connecting Futures seeks to bring together a new generation of media professionals, social media influencers, and online content creators to exchange experiences, openly discuss current challenges, and collaborate across borders.

Across a series of digital and in-person sessions, participants will:

• Identify the key drivers shaping the future of the information environment,
• Explore alternative scenarios for how the region’s information landscape may evolve,
• Discuss forward-looking strategies to strengthen information integrity,
• Formulate policy ideas and practical solutions to build greater societal resilience against disinformation.

Project Program

Running from April 2026 to December 2026, the project will convene 20 young media professionals, social media influencers and online content creators (ages 20–35) from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The program includes:

• Approximately four online sessions
• An in-person foresight workshop in Berlin, Germany

The outcomes of the process will be consolidated in a scenario report which will be distributed to decision-makers, online platforms, as well as civil society and media stakeholders through targeted outreach and virtual advocacy sessions.

All costs for participation and travel will be covered by the project.

Why should you apply?

Through the project’s unique foresight format, you will gain valuable insights into the current and emerging trends shaping the future of information integrity while strengthening your strategic thinking and long-term perspective. By exploring possible futures for the region’s information landscape, you will deepen your understanding of how media and digital platforms influence democratic resilience.

Throughout the program, participants will develop a stronger awareness of the role they play as journalists, content creators, and social media actors in shaping the information environment. Equipped with new analytical tools and collaborative insights, you will leave the program ready to apply this knowledge to your own content creation and dissemination practices.

Active participation in the outreach process will also provide opportunities to engage with high-level stakeholders, enabling you to build meaningful connections while strengthening your advocacy and communication skills.

Beyond the program itself, “Connecting Futures” offers the opportunity to become part of a lasting and dynamic network. Alumni will join a diverse and international community of peers and gain access to the extensive alumni networks of the Aspen Institutes, opening doors to future collaboration, exchange, and professional development.

Eligibility Criteria

We are looking for twenty motivated young media professionals, social media influencers and online content creators who meet the following requirements:

• Be between 20 and 35 years old;
• Be from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine (current residence in these countries is not required);

Belong to at least one of the following categories:

• A media professional (journalist, editor, producer, fact-checker, etc.), affiliated with an established media outlet (television, radio, print or online);
• A social media influencer or online content creator with an audience of at least 3K followers on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, X/Twitter, TikTok, or Spotify
• Demonstrate an active track record of producing or disseminating values-based content;
• For social media influencers and online content creators: demonstrate active, two-way engagement with their audience (for example by responding to comments, hosting Q&A sessions, or otherwise fostering an interactive community around their content);

Have interest in one or more of the following topics:

• Challenges to information integrity in the modern information environment,
• Media and information literacy,
• Fact-checking and combating information manipulation.
• Be willing to participate in open, constructive dialogue across different viewpoints;
• Commit to full participation in all online workshops and the in-person foresight workshop in Berlin.

Project Dates

• Introductory Call: July 13, 2026
• Online Workshop #1: September 2, 2026
• Online Workshop #2: September 4, 2026
• In-person workshop in Berlin, Germany: September 8-9, 2026
• Online Workshop #3: September 22, 2026
• Online Workshop #4: September 29, 2026

All calls will take place after 17:00 (CET).

Application Process

Interested applicants are asked to apply via this link:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/s6n38dNgZK 

Promising applicants will be asked to participate in a short interview.

Along with applicants’ availability, interest, and suitability, the final cohort will be selected to ensure age and gender balance as well as sectorial and geographic diversity.

This project is funded by the Aspen Institute Global Fund of the Aspen Institute in the United States.