SECTION I: Purpose and Definitions
1. Purpose of the Program
This document establishes the terms and conditions for participation in the regional training and acceleration program titled “Data, Visualizations, and Artificial Intelligence for Storytelling.” The primary objective is to empower investigative journalism and visual narrative, preparing professionals to translate complex development challenges (such as sustainability and inclusion) into high-impact stories through the mastery of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and the strategic use of data to address employment-related issues as a means to transform people and economies, thereby reducing poverty.
2. Organizers
The program is organized by Media Party, an innovation hub for media and journalists, in partnership with the World Bank.
3. Components
The program consists of:
- Hybrid Training (April 2026).
- Microgrants and Disbursement Phase (May).
- Incubation and Acceleration Phase (May – June).
- Final Presentation of featured stories at Media Party Buenos Aires (October 2026).
SECTION II: Eligibility and Participants
4. Participating Countries
The call for applications is open to professionals residing in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, and Ecuador. One microgrant will be awarded per country.
5. Eligible Profiles
The following may apply:
- Journalists and editors from digital, print, radio, or TV media.
- Designers and data specialists who are part of multidisciplinary teams within news organizations.
- Journalistic content creators operating within news structures with verifiable reach.
6. Mandatory Application Requirement: Publication Commitment
For an application to be considered, the participant must present a Publication Commitment (Letter of Intent). This document must be signed by an editor or a person in charge of an established media outlet, guaranteeing that the digital product or investigation developed will have a secured space for official dissemination.
7. Exclusions
Applications from personal blogs or social media accounts without a formal media structure or a proven stable reach within the creator ecosystem are excluded.
SECTION III: Program Methodology
8. Training and Schedule
The training will be conducted in a hybrid format during the month of April 2026.
- Day 1 (Wednesday, 04/22, 3:00 PM, Virtual): “Data Analysis for Journalists with AI.”
- Day 2 (Wednesday, 04/29, 3:00 PM, Virtual): “Impactful Data Visualization and AI-Assisted Generation” and the use of Data360, featuring successful examples of investigative work and visualization using the World Bank database.
- Day 3 (Wednesday, 05/06, 3:00 PM, Virtual): “Implementation and Formats of Narrative Digital Products with AI.”
SECTION IV: Microgrants, Publication, and Responsibilities
9. Selection Criteria for Microgrants
Projects will be evaluated for access to funding and mentorship based on the following criteria (obtaining a commitment from an established media outlet is mandatory):
- Feasibility: The partner media outlet must demonstrate the technical capacity to publish the proposed format (e.g., a multimedia special).
- Data Usage: Strategic integration of World Bank development indicators.
- AI Implementation: Use of artificial intelligence for the collection, analysis, or visualization of the story.
- Regional Reach: Projects addressing issues cross-cutting all four participating countries will be valued positively.
10. Estimated Schedule
- Application Deadline: Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
- Project Selection: Monday, May 25, 2026.
- Project Development: Tuesday, May 26 to June 22, with the support of microgrants and mentorship.
11. Disbursement and Publication
Selected projects receiving Microgrants must fulfill the requirement of publishing the final product developed during the Incubation and Acceleration phase.
12. Final Presentation
The presentation of featured stories on the main stage of Media Party Buenos Aires in October 2026 does not include travel or lodging expenses for the selected participants.
