Deadline: 6 April 2020
Asia New Zealand Foundation media travel grants programme offers New Zealand journalists the chance to travel independently to Asia to research and prepare stories – to help demystify Asia for New Zealand audiences.
The Foundation will consider proposals that seek to increase New Zealanders’ understanding of the Asia region, and proposals that promote themes of economic, political, social or strategic change in Asia – and the implications of these changes for New Zealand.
Media Travel Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to journalists who have a clear plan of the stories they want to cover.
Proposals that are unlikely to succeed include:
- Proposals in which journalism is not the core reason for travel. The Foundation is unlikely to approve grant applications from people who are travelling to Asia for another reason (e.g. family holidays, competing in a sports event) and plan to write stories for publication on the side.
- Applications with a purely travel focus (e.g. a cycling tour of Japan) are unlikely to be successful;
- Single-story proposals are unlikely to succeed, as are single-person interviews that could be conducted by telephone;
- Applications from journalists based offshore are less likely to succeed. New Zealand-based journalists will have preference.
Note for television crews: the Foundation is unable to support travel by more than two people on the same project.
Benefits
The grant can be used to cover most work- related costs, including return economy airfares, insurance, per diem allowances and visas and airport taxes.
- The Foundation may not be able to fund the full amount of some projects;
- The Foundation funds visits to Asia of up to three weeks’ duration.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation does not make travel arrangements for media travel grant recipients and cannot sponsor visas. It is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate visas for your travel.
Eligibility Criteria
- Either working as journalists for New Zealand news organisations or as freelance journalists New Zealand citizens or permanent residents;
- Preference will be given to candidates who:
- Are interested in deepening their knowledge of Asia
- Have a proven track record in journalism
- Are currently based in New Zealand
- Can provide a stimulating, well-researched and focused proposal outlining story ideas
- Can demonstrate that their material is likely to reach a substantial audience.
- Journalists working for news organisations should provide a letter of support from their employer. Freelancers should provide correspondence showing that one or more news organisation(s) will publish/broadcast work resulting from the proposed project.
Selection Criteria
Applications are awarded on a competitive basis. They are assessed by a panel that includes external representatives with newsroom experience.
Note: It takes about three weeks for the Foundation to advise applicants of the outcome.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
For more information, visit https://www.asianz.org.nz/media/media-grants/