Catalyst of Change
Supporting a vibrant civil society in Europe
Faktograf – Association for the Informed Public
www.faktograf.hrFaktograf is a non-profit media organization that publishes Faktograf.hr and The Climate Portal. We are dedicated to the development of good journalism, critical thinking, and an informed public. In 2024, both Faktograf.hr and the Climate Portal gained a Journalism Trust Initiative certificate. The Climate Portal uses investigative journalism and fact-checking to put information in context, emphasise what is relevant, and elaborate what is unclear. We believe that the climate crisis is solvable and we create space for informed debate, grassroots movements, science, and sustainable solutions.
About the Project
This Land is Our Land: Strengthening Environmental Justice in Local Communities through Investigative Journalism
This project will increase the visibility of grassroots movements that are fighting environmental devastation in Croatia, and raise public awareness of those fights. By documenting these issues and amplifying the voices of citizens and grassroots initiatives, we support informed public debate, encourage accountability, and ensure that the most affected communities are heard in discussions about environmental policy, climate justice, and sustainable development.
The Climate Portal’s journalists will investigate local environmental issues and document the progress of local initiatives, how they organize, and the resistance they face from business and authorities – amplifying their efforts. Additionally, during site visits, the Climate Portal’s team will provide media and public engagement trainings to local actors to strengthen their communication and advocacy work.
Communication Outputs
Media Coverage
Faktograf conducted an interview with Dušica Radojčić, the president of the Parliamentary Board for protection of nature and environment with whom they have discussed the struggles local initiatives are leading.
Finally, the project started to build a replicable model for citizen reporting and collaboration between journalists and grassroots actors. See a few examples:
Gospić:
- Najavljena sanacija ilegalnog odlagališta otpada, ali bez konkretnih rokova
- Burno u Gospiću: Građani traže što hitniji početak sanacije
Sisak:
- Siščani prosvjeduju zbog otpada: “Koliko košta naše zdravlje?”
- Ispitivanja troske s “crnog brda” pokazuju da u Sisku s razlogom strahuju za zdravlje
Gračac:
- Megalomanski projekt vjetroelektrana u Velikoj Popini ugrožava pitku vodu
- Planovi o proširenju ribogojilišta ozbiljno ugrožavaju Unu
Explainer:
Project Communications
Publications
Faktograf developed a digital outreach guide for local initiatives “From Tip-off to Headline: How to Communicate Environmental Protection to the Media” (Od dojave do priče: kako komunicirati s medijima o zaštiti okoliša). Disseminated during site visits to local initiatives, it contains know-how on media and public engagement, helping initiatives overcome fear and mistrust of journalists, prepare for interviews with data and facts, and communicate effectively with the public and authorities.
The collaboration between civil society and media has been covered in a series of social media posts:
Social Media
Funded by the European Union
name
Catalyst of Change: Protecting the Union values by supporting a resilient, engaged and vocal civil society for the promotion of women’s rights, environmental justice and anti-corruption
partner
European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL)
duration
1 January 2023- 31 December 2026
budget
3,411.982 EUR
