The Production Fund is now closed and will reopen in September 2018.
Who the fund is aimed at:
Aspiring journalists and filmmakers, including students, who seek to make a career out of reporting the global south, raising awareness about the developing world and breaking down prejudices and barriers between people from western cultures and those living in the developing world. To be eligible for funding we highly recommend that you attend a One World Media workshop on international reporting.
We seek to champion diverse emerging documentary and journalistic talent, and particularly encourage submissions from BAME applicants as well as from people from and based in developing countries. If the cost or location of our International Reporting workshops means that you are unable to participate in this one-day training, don’t let this discourage you from applying.
What we are looking for:
- Proposals to tell engaging stories from the developing world.
- All proposals must involve travel to a developing country.
- The fund is for non-fiction media across all platforms: film, radio, print, photojournalism, online and multimedia.
- A proposal where our grant will cover the majority of the budget with any additional funding necessary already in place
- Stories that are strong enough to be published or broadcast in established media outlets. We are looking for genuine journalism or documentary and will fund media that could ultimately appear in existing newspapers, magazines, radio, TV channels, professional news websites, etc.
Beyond this, the panel will be particularly interested in proposals that:
- Seek to tell original stories in a way that will engage the intended audience
- Highlight the voices of people living in the developing world, particularly voices that are not often heard
- Have established contacts and contributors who have confirmed their willingness to take part.
- Have considered ethical issues and safety
- Do not simply cover negative aspects of the developing world without considering the context in which they exist
- Have, for students, the full support of the course/institution at which you are studying. We encourage you to discuss your idea with your tutor before applying as you will need them to submit a reference for you and your work.
- Demonstrate an understanding of accountability and fair practice in news gathering and reporting
- Show a willingness to work with local people in equal partnership in co-production on a story.
How many stories to propose:
You can only propose one story per application.
How successful applicants are chosen:
Applications are shortlisted in house then put to a jury panel of industry professionals who select the winning applications.
How much research and preparation should be shown:
We generally expect you to have researched and verified your stories before applying. We will generally not consider your proposal if you have not established contacts and contributors on the ground and obtained their agreement to take part.
Reference:
Your reference should be written on headed paper and can be from a tutor/lecturer, a commissioner, an employer, or an established practitioner in your medium that is familiar with your work.
If you are a student, your reference should contain:
- Confirmation of the course you are enrolled on and in what capacity your referee knows you;
- Confirmation that your proposed project is endorsed by your course and institution;
- A comment on your application, particularly your ability to deliver the piece of media proposed.
If your reference is from an employer or other form of referee, it should contain:
- Confirmation of dates of employment
- Confirmation that they are familiar with your work and in what capacity (editor, commissioner, exec producer etc)
- A comment on your application, particularly your ability to make the piece of media proposed.
What we do not fund:
- Dissertations or academic research
- Feature length documentaries
- Any projects where the remaining funds are not yet in place
- Fiction