The U.S. Embassy is now accepting proposals for the 2017 Media Co-Op program, formerly known as the TV/Radio Coop Program. Media Co-ops are cooperative ventures, jointly developed by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section and local media outlets in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Affairs’ Foreign Press Center.
Media Co-Ops are a (maximum) two-week, highly-intensive U.S. work and travel program usually involving one foreign media producer/reporter and one camera person – ideally both fully fluent in English – accompanied by a U.S. contract producer.
Media Co-Op programs engage digital as well as broadcast journalists. We welcome proposals for stand-alone, single platform productions and combined TV, radio, and digital multi-platform productions. Media Co-Ops can result in news features, a series of short programs, or documentaries and sidebar ‘slice of life’ profiles.
We encourage participating outlets to promote the original programs through related radio, TV, or digital/print interviews with U.S. interlocutors and through blog or other social media reports.
Co-Op grantees receive U.S. Government funding to cover expenses related to the production including domestic U.S. airfare, hotel and food allowances, temporary health insurance for emergencies and accidents, and miscellaneous production expenses. Teams coming to the United States are usually expected to pay their own international airfare.
Successful proposals will address issues of common concern to the United States and Suriname and consider ways that the information will offer an in-depth perspective on a certain aspect of American culture, society, history or policy to Surinamese viewers. For example, but not limited to: ways of expanding economic opportunity through improved education; helping Suriname protect its environmental legacy, etc.
The Public Affairs Section welcomes inquiries and is available to consult with interested parties.
For more information, please contact Patrick Geraghty (GeraghtyPC@state.gov) or Ingrid Hill (HillIK@state.gov).
The deadline for submitting Co-op proposals is February 28, 2017. Subsequently quarterly deadlines follow approximately every 90 days.
