Deadline: 10 January 2019
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy is seeking proposals for the 2019 U.S. Department Bureau of Public Affairs’ Foreign Press Center (FPC) Media Co-op Program.
This program sends TV crews to the United States to film original documentaries and news reports on various topics.
The overall objective of the Media Co-op Program is to promote public awareness of issues related to good governance, civic participation in the political process, and the promotion of ethical standards in public life. Information about how these issues are treated in the United States can provide a valuable comparative perspective for Ukraine.
Funding Areas
Primary areas of funding interest for this proposal cycle are:
- Decentralization as a central tenet of democracy building and civic responsibility;
- Cybersecurity;
- Combating Corruption; and
- Civic activism
Program Details and Requirements
- TV crews can include a maximum of two people with at least one fluent English speaker who could act as a professional interpreter.
- The maximum travel period in the United States is limited to ten days.
- Production teams must provide their own fully-functioning equipment, to include: broadcast-quality cameras, lighting and audio gear, tripods, thumb drives and back-up equipment, and electrical transformers and adapters in good working order.
- Following the telecast, the TV station must provide the U.S. Embassy with a broadcast quality copy of the aired program.
- TV stations must agree to broadcast the produced segments during prime time. The Embassy also encourage participating media outlets to promote the original programs through related radio, TV, or digital/print interviews and through blog or other social media reports.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ukrainian TV production companies and NGOs with a proven track record of stand-alone, single platform productions or combined TV, radio, and digital multi-platform productions are invited to submit proposals for the creation of news reports, a series of short programs,documentaries, and sidebar “slice of life” profiles.
- Proposals can be either for a single production,a series of productions or completed segments that may be incorporated into an existing TV program.
- The subject matter must fall within one or more of the thematic areas listed above.
- Filming will take place in the United States.
- Successful projects will receive funding for U.S. domestic airfare, ground transportation, hotel and food allowance, and temporary health insurance.
- Proposals with cost sharing – namely the TV station’s funding of international airfare – are highly encouraged.
How to Apply
Proposals should be e-mailed at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit https://ua.usembassy.gov/education-culture/current-programs-grants/