Inclusive Media for Change, a CSDS-based initiative invites applications from journalists in English and Hindi for Inclusive Media Fellowships 2012-13.
The Fellowships are given to bring spotlight on Rural Development and to promote democratic social change, particularly through empowerment, decentralization, convergence and good use of existing development schemes by Panchayats and local bodies. The Inclusive Media for Change runs a clearing house of ideas, information and alternatives on rural India (www.im4change.org), conducts research and organises media workshops.
The ideal candidates would be willing to spend considerable time with rural communities and write series of stories or produce radio/ TV programmes on grassroots issues that require wider coverage and public attention. The fellowship seeks to cover all travel and incidental expenses subject to an upper limit of Rs 150,000 required by candidates to enhance their understanding, to take time off from routine work, and to spend up to eight weeks in rural areas. The payment is intended to cover and reimburse costs of news gathering and logistics and the total number can go up to 10 fellowships in Hindi and English.
The fellowships are open to journalists working for any newspapers/ magazines/ radio or TV channels on themes of India’s rural development and agrarian distress though preference will be given to those working for the mainstream media. Those working for well-known media websites are eligible to apply though a maximum of two fellowships can be given for news media platforms. The topics/ projects chosen must be about happenings/ issues/ positive interventions/ alternatives in areas of rural livelihoods, agrarian crises, hunger/ malnutrition, public health, and successful implementation of decentralized planning by panchayats. Up to two fellowships each in Hindi and English will be supported by the Gene campaign/ Centre for Policy Research and will be reserved for highlighting issues of exclusion and hunger/ malnutrition or their eradication through innovation and positive intervention. An ideal candidate will have genuine interest in rural development with an open mind and will be willing to spend time in rural areas so as to gather first-hand information.
The fellows will be given a chance to refine their project proposal after their selection. They will be particularly encouraged to write about issues of positive interventions, decentralization as mandated by the Constitution of India and those of empowerment of common people resulting in rural development and positive social change.
The final output of the selected Inclusive Media Fellows will be in the form of stories or series of reports/ articles/ radio or TV packages to be carried by the media platforms sponsoring the candidates with due acknowledgement to the Inclusive Media Project of the CSDS. Out of the fellowship duration of up to eight weeks, two to four weeks are assigned for news/ material gathering and the remaining two weeks to take time off for writing/ producing/ editing or compiling the information gathered.
All professional journalists employed by news outlets and free lancers (who can provide evidence of support and publication from preferably a mainstream media outlet) are eligible to apply. The media organization will have to give an undertaking that the final output of the fellowship would be used in their publications in a format of their choice (i.e., series of reports, travelogues, edit/ op-ed articles, documentary film or TV/radio packages). Entries without the editors’ undertaking will not be considered.
The last date for applications is Monday December 31, 2012. The selection will be done by a jury of eminent journalists and development thinkers. A part of the fellowship money will be given as advance in order to fund the initial research and travels, and the rest will be given after receiving the evidence of the project’s completion. The fellowship is intended to cover costs of logistics and newsgathering and not meant to be in the form of salary or honorarium.
The applications should include a cover letter and the candidate’s CV (strictly within 3 A4 pages) along with the following:
1. A clearly defined project proposal not to exceed 500 words
2. A break up of at least 5 story ideas based on the project proposal (within 200 words)
3. A rough break-up of travel/ boarding requirements
4. Two samples of published work (or Radio/TV programmes) in English or Hindi
5. A supporting letter from the editor assuring leave for at least 4 weeks and agreeing to use the fellowship output in the publication
(Free lancers must procure a supporting letter from the editor of a publication/ channel agreeing to use the fellowship output)
6. A letter of recommendation about the candidate’s past record, journalistic abilities and suitability for the project from an eminent journalist, teacher or supervisor giving an idea of the candidate’s suitability for the Inclusive Media Fellowships.
Conditions:
1. The verdict of the fellowship jury will be final.
2. All payments will be subject to TDS rules.
3. The Inclusive media project will suspend or withdraw the grant/ advance payment if the fellow fails to complete the project and publish its outcome. For further clarification please read the rules at the Inclusive Media project site (www.im4change.org) under the head “Fellowships’ on the Home page. The candidates are strongly advised to read the rules before applying.
4. The outcomes of the fellowships will also be put on the website (im4change.org)
Send your completed application and CV in Microsoft Word format in English and Mangal or Unicode in Hindi along with scanned copies of your clippings to the following email address: im4change.csds@gmail.com
Candidates applying in Hindi must note that the applications are to be sent in Mangal/ Unicode fonts only.
Application sent to us by emails will be promptly acknowledged.
Those sending emails please write "Inclusive Media Fellowship 2011" in the subject line.
However, if for any reason you cannot send it by email, or if you want to send a hard copy as well as the email, please do so by speed post or courier to the following address: (Please note that entries which arrive after due date, for any reason whatsoever, will not be considered)
Inclusive Media Fellowship 2012-13
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)
29, Rajpur Road, Delhi 110054