CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR WESTERN BALKAN PUBLIC BROADCASTERS
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION SUPPORT
The Production Support aims to enhance the quality of news and investigative reporting across all public broadcasters in the Western Balkans through supporting teams of journalists, editors, producers and other media professionals from these broadcasters. This call will support the production of at least two television stories in each Western Balkan country, totalling 12 stories across all six countries.
Six Production Supports will be awarded through this call, each for a gross amount of €8,000 for the production of two television stories per country. These funds can cover the following costs related to the production of TV stories: travel costs, rent of additionally needed equipment, design and visualization, translation, honoraria for the individuals involved in the production of the stories and others. All costs are subject to approval after the applications are selected.
The selected teams of journalists will receive mentorship from BIRN`s editors/mentors in the production of their stories and will be invited to contribute to the production of one cross-border documentary.
WHO CAN APPLY?
This call is designed for teams of 3-5 members of journalists, editors, producers and other media professionals from public broadcasters in Western Balkan countries. Applicants are required to complete an application form, propose ideas for the topics to be covered in the two television stories they wish to produce through this grant, and designate a team leader. A variety of topics for production of stories are eligible for this call, such as topics affecting national and regional economies, struggles and challenges to countries; EU integration processes, societies and countries; human rights violations, including those in the digital sphere, education, environment and health challenges and others.
Within this call, a total of six teams, one from each of the Western Balkan countries, will be chosen.
Each team is anticipated to:
- Consist of 3-5 journalists, editors, producers and other media professionals from the same public broadcaster in one of Western Balkan countries. Teams can consist of team members working in the same or different public broadcasters in the same country.
- Propose a clear idea and financial plan for the production and publication of two TV stories.
- Produce at least two TV stories that will be aired by the public broadcaster to which they are affiliated during 2024.
- Be involved in mentorship sessions and work closely with BIRN`s editors/mentors.
BIRN is dedicated to promoting and achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture, so we encourage individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups, and those with disabilities to apply.
HOW TO APPLY?
Please fill in the Application Form in English by Friday June 21 by 14:00 and upload all the requested documents. A detailed financial breakdown will be requested only from pre-selected applicants before signing the agreement.
If you have questions about the programme, or the call, please contact Marija Vasilevska at marija.vasilevska@birnnetwork.org.
EVALUATION OF THE APPLICATIONS
A selection committee of three senior BIRN editors will independently evaluate all the applications. There will be two phases of selection:
- Administrative and Eligibility Review: Checking whether the applications are filled in the right format and if all required information is provided within the deadline; and
- Evaluation by the Selection Committee: Evaluation of the applications that passed the administrative and eligibility criteria as per the following selection criteria:
| Evaluation Criteria | Scores |
| Experience of the team members:
– The application is submitted by a team of 3-5 journalists, editors, producers and other media professionals from the same public broadcasters in one of Western Balkan countries. – All team members are working in public broadcasters. – At least one of the team members has 3-5 years of working experience as a journalist. |
40 points |
| The story ideas:
– The topic of the stories and its relevance (priorities will be given to stories that cover human rights violations against women, men, girls and boys). – Presentation of the ideas for the stories. |
60 points |
Applicants will be notified on the status of their application by mid-July 2024 at the latest.
