Deadline: 03-Jul-20
The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi has announced an open competition for a Media Education Program (MEP) – “Strengthening Journalism Education in Georgia.”
Objectives
- The purpose of the Georgian Media Education Program is to support the professional development of media educators, strengthen journalism programs in Georgian HEIs through adopting the best practices of journalism education in the United States, and establish collaborative linkages between Georgian and U.S. schools of journalism. These visits should also demonstrate the important role quality journalism education plays in establishing and maintaining a vibrant press corps and accountable democracy.
- The program should focus on introducing MEP participants to the latest trends in journalism education. Apart from consultation meetings with professors and media administrators, campus tour and intensive hands on trainings at a selected U.S. school of journalism/communication, participation in events and workshops organized by professional journalism organizations should help achieve the program objectives. Exposure to emerging media tools, instruments, and digital platforms would enable selected Georgian media educators to learn modern practices in journalism education and to successfully adopt them in their professions. The program will also enable media professionals to examine technological advances in an American university and the influence it has on expanding academic opportunities for the educational achievement.
- The program envisages exchanges in both directions – a combination of trips to the United States for Georgian participants and trips to Georgia of American partners, who will be engaged in active trainings on specific topics identified in consultation with MEP participants. For the visits to Georgia, activities should focus on completing those activities conducted in the United States and increasing the professional capacity of the Georgian participants and their colleagues who may not travel to the United States
Expected Results
The program should emphasize hands-on experience that will build the professional expertise of Georgian media educators and contribute to strengthening journalism education in Georgia. The program may include such topics as:
- Curriculum and instruction (including course design for BA and MA programs in journalism and mass communication, multimedia journalism, digital media and strategic communications);
- Assessment of student learning outcomes;
- Course evaluation and accreditation of media programs;
- Modern textbooks, resources for teaching journalism, e-libraries;
- Online programs for journalism, development of online course design;
- Faculty development;
- Student internship and support;
- Teaching academic writing for journalism students;
- Media school partnerships and student exchanges;
- Multidisciplinary teaching and use of integrated methods (academic research combined with practical work);
- Current trends and “hot button” issues in journalism education.
Funding Priority
The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia seeks to fund a nonprofit/non-governmental organization with prior experience in similar projects. In-kind financial contributions will be favorably considered.
Funding Information
- Award Period: 12 months
- Award Amount: up to $250,000
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility is limited to U.S. non-profit/non-governmental organizations subject to 501 (c) (3) of the tax code. Direct funding for non-U.S. institutions is not available under this announcement.
- Applicants are not required to include funding from other donors. However, applications that include additional in-kind and/or cash contributions from non-U.S. Government sources will be more competitive, since cost-sharing demonstrates a strong commitment to the planned activities and will be considered to show great cost effectiveness.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=327174