What
Upcoming deadlines for global grants applications and other opportunities
This selection is aimed at media workers, practitioners, researchers and journalists. More information can be found by following the links under each summary.
All opportunities are in chronological order.
Good luck!
Remember to check out our annual PMA Global Grant scheme.
BBC Studios Writers’ Academy
Deadline: May 7
Writers who are passionate about TV drama and with new ideas are invited to apply to the BBC Studios Writers’ Academy, which will give a minimum of eight writers a year’s paid training, with guaranteed commissions on the BBC’s flagship shows and the opportunity to develop an original project with a BBC studios production team. Students will learn about TV production and gain direct writing experience and mentoring.
Applicants must have at least one professionally produced piece of work, 30 minutes minimum in length, in either TV, radio, theatre or film. The story idea must be no longer than one A4 page, and concern a regular character on one of the Continuing Drama shows. It should follow a complete character arc, with beginning, middle and end.
The course includes a mixture of working in the studios and working from home. Accommodation allowance and travel expenses will be covered for those based outside of London.
Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) Story Grants on Global Biodiversity
Deadline: May 15
Grants are up to US$5,000 and will be awarded in July 2019 to support public interest coverage of biodiversity issues and challenges facing communities around the world. The grants can be used to cover stipends and expenses like travel, multimedia production, translation and more. Those who are not SEJ members will have to pay an application fee of US$40.
Global Shining Light Award
Deadline: 19 May
This award, supported by the Global Investigative Journalism Network, seeks to honour investigative journalism done under threat or in the direst of conditions, in developing or transitioning country. There will be two categories: Small & Medium Outlets (organisations with staff of 10 or less) and Large Outlets (organisations with more than 10 staff). If submissions are in another language other than English they will have to be submitted with a detailed English language summary (for print pieces) or transcript of a broadcast script.
Winners will receive US$2,000, a trip to the 2019 Global investigative Journalism Conference in Hamburg and an honorary plaque. The work submitted must have been broadcast between Jan 1, 2017 and Dec 31, 2018.
Plural + Youth Video Competition
Deadline: 16 June
This joint project between of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is inviting young filmmakers aged 25 years old or younger to submit work on migration, diversity and social inclusion. Entries must be between one and five minutes in length, must be in English or include English subtitles, and produced after 31 December 2017. Entries can also be submitted as a group.
PMA Workshop | Developing Social Media Guidelines for Broadcasters in Southern Africa
When: 3-5 June 2019
The PMA is pleased to announce a new workshop, organised in partnership with UNESCO Harare Office, to develop social media guidelines for broadcasters in Southern Africa. The 3-day workshop, which will be held in Namibia, is open to media professionals from the following countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles and Mozambique.
Call for Applications: Reporting on Refugees and Migration Through the Eyes of Children
Deadline: 7 June 2019
Workshop: 19-22 September
The Dart Center is now accepting applications for a journalism training workshop focused on children and the international refugee crisis.
To prepare news professionals worldwide to cover refugee and migrant children and families with greater knowledge, depth, and skills, the Dart Center is now accepting applications for a journalism training workshop focused on children and the international refugee crisis.
Free Press Awards 2019
Deadline: 15 July
Free Press Unlimited’s Free Press Awards celebrate the work of the best journalists and media professionals.
The organisation supports journalists worldwide on a daily basis, so the awards will celebrate and recognise exceptional work in two key categories: Newcomer of the Year and Most Resilient Journalist.
The event will also be an opportunity to encourage journalists to be innovative and bring new ideas to the fore.
Mor information about applying to the awards can be found below.
Beyond survival? A new Human Resources research project for PMA members
Deadline: Ongoing
Our new project aims to develop people management strategies to ensure the development and growth of PSMs in the fragmented digital media landscape.
In an exciting new research project, the Public Media Alliance (PMA) has partnered with Peter Block from the University of Westminster’s Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), to launch a project that will review the processes by which participating PSM’s manage the employer-employee relationship during the employment life-cycle.
The purpose is to highlight issues for the sector at large, identify common themes of staff development needs, and offer some practical recommendations for good practice to the PMA community.
ICFJ Knight Fellow, Data Journalism, Central/Eastern Europe
Deadline: Rolling basis
The International Center for Journalists seeks outstanding applicants with a strong background in data journalism for a one-year ICFJ Knight Fellowship to promote data-driven reporting techniques in Central and Eastern Europe. The Fellow will work with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which supports a network of investigative journalism centers around the region that specialize in uncovering organized crime and large-scale corruption in government and industry.
Fellowship to Report on Global Religion Issues
Deadline: Ongoing
The International Reporting Project (IRP) is welcoming applications from professional journalists who wish to report on religion issues worldwide.
The time spent in the destination country of choice is flexible. However, fellowships usually last between two and seven weeks. The organization encourages stories in a variety of forms, including print, online, radio, photography, video, social media etc. Applications which seek to explore new territories and countries are preferred.
The wider topic of religion issues can be related to themes such as conflict and peace, environment, political economy, health, gender, migration, law and more.
Applications are reviewed in cycles on a rolling basis.
Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa
Deadline: Ongoing
“OSIEA plays an active role in encouraging open, informed dialogue on issues of importance in Eastern Africa. Through a combination of grant making, advocacy and convening power, OSIEA is able to support and amplify the voices of pro-democracy organizations and individuals in the region and to strengthen their capacity to hold their governments accountable. This includes efforts to defend and support rights activists and pro-democracy advocates who come under attack for their work. ”
The eligibility criteria includes supporting projects based around media and access to information. The OSIEA is available to both organisations and individuals.
Interested grant seekers should consult the OSIEA website for more information on eligibility and application guidelines.
Innovative Ibero-American Journalism
Deadline: Ongoing
The Chilean digital magazine Puroperiodismo, is inviting journalists, developers, designers and innovators residing in Latin America and the Caribbean to participate in this project.
Media professionals who are currently exploring new technologies, approaches to reporting, developing an app or similar are encourage to talk about it in the magazine.
Entries are on an ongoing basis
Individual Support
Deadline: Ongoing
The Assistance Desk of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) provides financial and administrative assistance to professional journalists and citizen-journalists who have been the victims of reprisals because of their reporting.
The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: Travel Grants Programme
Deadline: Ongoing
Fund for international travel costs associated with reporting projects on topics and regions of global importance, with an emphasis on issues that have gone unreported or under-reported in the mainstream American media. The amount of individual travel grants will depend on the specific project and detailed budget planning. Most awards fall in the range of $5,000 to $15,000 but depending on project specifics may be higher.
Training: Online Courses for Media Professionals
Deadline: Ongoing
A selection of online tutorials by the European Journalism Centre.
The diverse set of courses include “Bulletproof Data journalism”, “Google Search for Journalists”, “Verification: the basics” and “Managing Data Journalism Projects” amongst many others.
All courses are free and vary in difficulty. Courses can be completed at the participant’s preferred pace.
ICFJ Knight Fellowship, Latin America
Deadline: Ongoing, fellowships preferably starting in June 2017
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is looking for outstanding journalists with a background in digital journalism who wish to strengthen their investigative reporting via new digital technologies in Central America, Mexico and/or Colombia.
If selected, the Fellow will build the capacity of media outlets and journalists in Central America, Mexico, and/or Colombia, strengthen a network between international, national and local media, recruit experts, and oversee an innovation fund.
The candidate needs to have experience in leading investigative journalism projects, experience in major newsrooms, and high proficiency in both English and Spanish.
The fellowship will take place in Latin America, with at least 25 percent of the Fellow’s time spent in Nicaragua. The duration of the fellowship is one year, with the goal of starting in June 2017. The fellowship may be extended depending on funding and ICFJ approval.
NPR Story Lab
Deadline: Rolling
“The NPR Story Lab is looking for great ideas. In fact, we’re an idea hub – generating new segments for our news programs, creating radio shows, and launching new podcasts. We want to collaborate with member stations and independent producers. We want to work with new talent that brings a fresh perspective to NPR. We want to keep innovating and leading in the podcast and radio world. The NPR Story Lab is a true creative studio at the heart of NPR, one that fosters experimentation and continues to evolve the sound of public radio. Tell us your ideas, and let’s make stuff!”
Are you interested in submitting your story or pitching a programme idea to America’s foremost public radio station? NPR are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Get involved via the link below.
Transatlantic Media Fellowship
Deadline: Ongoing
European media representatives are invited to apply for this fellowship, which will give them the chance to travel across the United States and expand on their knowledge of America and its citizens.
Organized by the Transatlantic Media Network (TMN), the goal of this fellowship is to strengthen the existing transatlantic relationship and improving mutual understanding among journalists and media professionals of both sides of the Atlantic.
The visiting journalists will follow an individual itinerary, created on their skills and interests, which will take them mostly around Washington DC and to visit TMN’s partner institutions, such as universities and journalism schools.
The fellowships may have a different duration but they will all be up to three months.
GNI Fellowship
Deadline: Ongoing
The Google News Initiative Fellowship connects students who want to explore the intersection between journalism and technology with news organisations.
The successful candidates will kick off their careers in the news industry by spending their summer working with experts in newsrooms and creating a professional network.
In 2019 the European Journalism Centre offers 40 fellowship placements in 11 European countries. The GNI Fellowship is funded by the Google News Initiative and is also available worldwide. Find out more about the programme in non-EU countries here.
[Text from European Journalism Centre and Google News Initiative]