Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Opportunity : 2014 Student Media Grants Program.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation Chair on Conflict and Development at Texas A&M University is now accepting proposals for the 2014 Student Media Grants Program.

The #SMGP is an annual photojournalism grant awarded to students interested in using innovative methods to research and chronicle issues facing fragile and conflict-affected nations. Students are encouraged to use “Fragile: The Human Condition”, a book by Howard G. Buffett as an example of the photography and documentation at the nexus of conflict and development.

Students should submit proposals that will describe the anticipated travel, research, and photographic subjects. They should choose an international development area that reflects issues of food insecurity, health, education, land tenure, poverty, and other issues faced by people in fragile and conflict-affected nations.

During their experience, students will be required to accomplish the following:

  • Show three-month engagement (minimum) with international development issues through Extension activities, internships, student research, etc.
  • Write a series of blog postings for the ConDev Blog during their experience, and document their chosen subjects through photo and/or video journalism that draws attention to conflict and development issues.
  • Publish or exhibit the results of their work in a form of refereed media with the possibility of publishing with Texas A&M University Press.

Interested students should submit a proposal by May 14, 2014, that outlines their intended use of grant funds, with details about locations to be visited, issues to be studied, how the funds will be used and any special needs.

Proposals should be:

  • No more than four 8.5×11 pages
  • 12 point, Times New Roman font

Proposals must include:

  • A cover sheet with their personal contact details including academic year and academic department with at least two faculty or staff references
  • Thematic focus
  • Motivation for doing this work (½ to 1 page)
  • Planned activities over a 3-month period
  • Plans for blogging
  • Target media for publication
  • Timeline
  • Budget
  • Travel dates

Proposals should be submitted to condev@tamu.edu with “#SMGP 2014: [Name of Student]” as the subject line, and only one proposal can be submitted per student. Awards can be used during the 2014-2015 academic year. An award is not expected to exceed $5,000 per awardee and will be made at the discretion of the Chair.

Each applicant must show evidence of good health and medical insurance that is valid in the area to which the student is expected to travel and can be included as part of the budget. Each student must register his or her emergency contact information with the Study Abroad Programs Office. A letter signed by the student’s supervising professor must accompany the application.

The program is open for both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate students may not travel to a country where there is a U.S. Department of State travel warning in place. A second round may be required that will consist of individual interviews.

All work produced by Fellows will be used by the Chair and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to advance advocacy and public awareness of critical issues facing international development. Information about the #SMGP grantees and their associated projects will be presented annually to the Board of Advisors of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation Chair on Conflict & Development and the H. G. Buffett Foundation.

There will be unrestricted access and use of published materials by these entities to advance mutual goals. Fellows will sign a release granting these permissions.

All questions, concern, and/or inquiries can be directed to: Melanie Balinas atcondev@condevcenter.org or 979-458-9399.





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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

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