Independent Arab television news producers will be able to obtain financial support for their research and productions this year. The TV Production Fund Small Grants awards will be made under the MENA MEDIA program [19], administered through the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) and AmmanNet, and funded by the US Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
Up to 10 television journalists and producers from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the West Bank and Gaza will be able to seek small grants up to $20,000. A total of $150,000 will be available to Arab producers in two rounds this year.
Applications for the first round of grants are now being received with a deadline set for May 15, 2006. Productions dealing with issues like political processes and governments' responsiveness to the needs of their citizens, women in public life, profiles of innovative/emerging leaders will be considered by a panel made up largely of independent Arab media workers. Projects which include alliances on content among television stations, print, radio or Internet outlets to ensure the productions have the broadest distribution possible will be given priority.
Mark Whitehouse, Director of IREX's Media Development Division, called the TV Production Fund a unique opportunity for Arab producers. "We welcome the opportunity to support Arab producers who create content about Arabs and Arab communities for broadcast on Arab television."
Daoud Kuttab of AmmanNet called the grants program a gift to independent media practitioners. "In a region where governmental and semi governmental groups dominate the national and regional television scene, these grants will help independent journalists and producers work in an environment free from these financial pressures."
An independent panel made up of international Arab production specialists and representatives from the MENA MEDIA Advisory Council, AmmanNet, and IREX will assess the proposals. Applicants will be required to demonstrate 20-percent or more cost-sharing. MENA MEDIA will also consider grant components that enable the finished product to be shown at television festivals. Details and online applications are available on www.ammannet.net/tv [20].
