Call for reporting grant applications

The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) is pleased to invite Ugandan journalists to apply for the second round of grants to support ambitious story projects that require more than the regular newsroom facilitation to pull off. Shs. 63,000,000/= has been earmarked to support public affairs reporting in 2014 alone. ACME has appointed a selection panel which sits once every quarter to select winners from the submitted story proposals.

In June this year, this panel selected and awarded 22 winners. The next round of grantees will be selected on 13th September 2014. Again, print, electronic, photography and radio journalists across Uganda are therefore encouraged to apply in time for the September selection. Stories proposals should fall under at least one of the 12 priority areas below:

These grants are intended for journalists with demonstrated ability to pursue and accomplish ambitious reporting projects. However, ACME’s network of mentors (senior journalists) are available to offer guidance to grantees who seek it. All grantees MUST attend a one-day seminar during which they will work with ACME to refine their story ideas and reporting approaches as well as be informed on the accounting requirements related to the grant. Each journalist who receives a grant will be expected to produce and broadcast/publish the proposed in-depth story within six weeks from receipt of the money. Each reporting project will be supported with up to Shs. 1,750,000/=.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply online here. You can also download the application form here, complete and email it to info@acme-ug.org or deliver it to our offices by 31ST AUGUST 2014.

Both online and downloadable application forms require the following information:
•Your bio data, contact details, details of your media house, editorial supervisor’s details
• Brief professional background

• A story pitch that includes the following –

• A working headline for your idea
• Key issues to be explored/investigated
• Why the story matters
• Sources and information resources to be used
• A summarised break-down of reporting costs i.e. budget
• Work samples that demonstrate your ability to pull off an in-depth reporting project
• Statement of support from your editor

The panel sits once every quarter to select winners. Sitting dates for this year are as below:

The application process for each round will be open at www.acme-ug.org throughout the relevant quarter to allow journalists enter their best ideas whenever they occur to them. Fresh proposals/ideas are preferred for each round but older submissions that were not awarded in previous rounds will be considered if applicants update and resubmit them.

Selection Criteria

As this is a competitive process, the available slots will be offered to journalists with the strongest applications. Applications will be judged on the quality of the story pitch, the applicant’s journalism skills as indicated by their work samples and evidence of support from the applicant’s editor.

Women journalists are encouraged to apply.