How far are you ready to take your media?
MEDIA PARCOURS empowers established media organizations to reach their next stage of development.
Designed by DW Akademie, MEDIA PARCOURS is the SMART MEDIA ACCELERATOR’s acceleration program for the Moroccan and Tunisian media. Over a period of nine months, it provides continuous, tailor-made support to help media optimize their operations, strengthen performance, and scale sustainably.
The program adopts a holistic approach, working simultaneously on editorial practices, organizational structure, and economic foundations, with a clear focus on long-term viability and resilience.
Who can benefit from MEDIA PARCOURS?
MEDIA PARCOURS is designed for independent, associative, and private media organizations operating in Morocco and Tunisia.
The program targets media outlets that are ready to engage their entire organization in a process of improvement and transformation, and that recognize journalistic quality, professional standards, and continuous learning as essential drivers of long-term success and sustainability.
In the studios of IFM radio in Tunis in 2022
Credit: MEDIA PARCOURS
What does the program offer?
MEDIA PARCOURS is built around a curated catalogue of services and the contribution of recognized national and international experts, allowing for fully tailor-made support designed in close collaboration with each media organization.
The program offers personalized and intelligent support, starting with a comprehensive diagnostic of the media outlet, covering organization, editorial quality, audience strategy, marketing, and business operations. Building on this assessment and aligned with your brand identity, clear objectives are jointly defined for the MEDIA PARCOURS period.
Together, we then develop a structured roadmap detailing the activities to be carried out, the stages to be reached, and the expertise required at each step. This roadmap is directly connected to your priorities and implemented with the support of carefully selected experts.
MEDIA PARCOURS is designed as a flexible program, combining different forms of support, including capacity building, expert interventions, online resources, and networking opportunities.
The support is structured around three core thematic pillars:
- Journalistic and content quality
- Audience and business development
- Finance and business operations
A shared objective is to make progress measurable and visible. For this reason, a standardized reporting framework is put in place, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and qualitative benchmarks.
This monitoring system provides essential insights to track progress, support decision-making, and strengthen the media’s position when engaging with investors, media funds, sponsors, and partners at any stage of its development.
What about funding?
MEDIA PARCOURS does not provide direct funding during the program. Instead, participants gain access to a high-value support ecosystem designed to strengthen their organization at a structural level. This includes international expertise, advanced training, and curated networking opportunities. The logic is simple: make full use of the program’s resources to accelerate your media’s development and readiness for the next stage.
The stages of the program
MEDIA PARCOURS consists of 3 main stages.
Stage 1 – Application and qualification phase
From 24 March to early May 2026.
The MEDIA PARCOURS journey begins with the application phase. During this period, applicant media organizations are invited to articulate their raison d’être, highlight their key achievements, and openly share the challenges and strategic questions they are facing.
Applicants are also asked to define their strategic objectives for the coming months. This initial reflection provides a clear and structured view of the organization, its practices, and its ambitions.
Eligibility is assessed on the basis of this comprehensive and honest diagnosis, which serves as the foundation for the tailor-made support offered throughout the Media Parcours program.
The selected organisations will be announced by e-mail by late April 2026.
Stage 2 – Phase 1: “The Gate”.
Needs assessment and roadmap development
May-July 2026.
Once officially selected, each organization undergoes a “needs assessment”-phase. This crucial step enables us to prioritize the objectives to be achieved and the actions to be implemented during the program.
“The Gate” is a selection phase. At the end of this phase, two teams per country (Morocco & Tunisia) will be selected based on the following criteria: the quality of the deliverables, the team’s availability and motivation, the suitability of the media for the programme, and the media’s growth potential.
A roadmap is then jointly established for selected teams.
Stage 3 – Phases 2 & 3: Program development
Phase 2: August-October 2026
Phase 3: November 2026-January 2027
