Description
The U.S. Embassy Dushanbe Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce funding is available to mark the 30th Anniversary of U.S.-Tajik relations through a video campaign to develop the skills of young journalists. This program supports the development of Tajikistan’s media environment and digital journalism capabilities. Background: The U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section (PAS) in Dushanbe is soliciting Proposals for grants from Tajikistan’s civil society and independent media organizations that focus on the priority areas specified below. Applicants should pay close attention to the Public Affairs Section’s goals, priority program areas, and target audiences when developing their proposals. Proposals cannot exceed 12 pages. Background: Current Situation & Problem Statement: Journalists in Tajikistan generally lack the ability to cover stories outside of their immediate vicinity as budgets for media outlets are low. As such, journalists miss an opportunity to learn the skill of field reporting and the Tajik public is unaware of many events and programs happening outside of the major cities. Reporting tours offer an opportunity for journalists to cover different stories and hear new perspectives from around the country, informing their own understanding of the issues in Tajikistan. Also, video editing skills have become a necessity for reaching a mass audience through reporting on social media, and these skills are lacking among many journalists and amateur bloggers. Review of Past Projects: The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe previously supported projects that trained hundreds of journalists and bloggers, created platforms for their products, and also provided some equipment and studios to journalists. Projects under this funding opportunity will build on this foundation by providing opportunities for young journalists and bloggers to increase their digital journalism capacity. Proposed Project Introduction: This funding opportunity seeks to: 1. Organize reporting tours for journalists, amateur journalists, and bloggers to sites of U.S. government assistance programs outside of Dushanbe, 2. Train amateur journalists on video editing, photography, and effective packaging of digital content for social media, 3. Record and edit a series of videos to highlight U.S.-Tajik relations over the past 30 years, 4. Produce a documentary on the subject of U.S.-Tajik relations Project Goal: Increased capacity of media professionals to effectively produce visual content for social media and television while highlighting positive stories of U.S.-Tajik relations. Project Audience(s): The primary target audience for these projects should be men and women aged 15-35 living in Tajikistan, who have an interest in journalism, photography, videography, or social media, and who have time to devote to training and content creation. Project Objectives: Each project should achieve the following objectives: 1. Increase capacity of local media professionals through four reporting tours for journalists, amateur journalists, and bloggers to sites of U.S. government assistance programs outside of Dushanbe 2. Increase amateur journalist capacity in video editing, photography, and effective packaging of digital content for social media 3. Provide the opportunity for media professionals to increase their digital journalism capacity through the production of a documentary on U.S.-Tajik relations, as well as a series of videos to highlight U.S.-Tajik relations over the past 30 years. Examples of activities include but are not limited to: · Reporting Tours o Organize and implement 3-4 reporting tours for outside of Dushanbe for professional and amateur journalists and photographers highlighting current and past U.S.-government assistance projects. Themes should include: 1. Agriculture/Economic Assistance, 2. Health Assistance, 3. Security Assistance, 4. Education Assistance Take high resolution photos and videos while on the reporting tours and use these to produce at least 4 professional-level videos that highlight different aspects of U.S. assistance to Tajikistan and bilateral cooperation. · Documentary Activities o Produce a 25-minute documentary on U.S.-Tajik relations, incorporating recent and archival videos and photos, interviews, infographics, music, and professional-level production and editing techniques. § Conduct, film, and edit 15+ videos of each of the following groups to be used for the documentary and as stand-alone videos: · Former Ambassadors, employees, grantees, and contractors of the U.S. Embassy · Alumni and current Embassy programs · Beneficiaries of U.S. Embassy assistance projects · Current Embassy employees and Embassy partners o Video Editing/Photography/Social Media: Take professional-level photos of least 15 members of the following groups: beneficiaries of U.S. Embassy assistance projects, current Embassy employees, and U.S. government exchange alumni.