The Simon Cumbers Media Fund is seeking proposals from journalists and photographers who are interested in travelling to a developing country to report for an Irish media outlet on the reality of modern life there. The summer 2019 round of the Fund is now open to local and national media professionals from all disciplines.
Supported by Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas aid programme, the Fund enables journalists to report on stories of contemporary life in developing countries, that otherwise would not be told to Irish audiences. It was set up in memory of Irish journalist and cameraman Simon Cumbers, who was killed while on assignment in Saudi Arabia in 2004.
Proposals should focus on international development themes, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Applicants must clearly demonstrate the relevance of their proposed project to one or more of the priorities in A Better World, Ireland’s Policy for International Development.
Applications will be assessed by the judging panel against criteria that includes; the potential of the project to increase awareness and understanding of international development issues in Ireland, as well as the potential reach of the project.
Announcing the summer 2019 round, Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon TD said:
“The Simon Cumbers Media Fund gives media professionals the opportunity to explore and bring to an Irish audience the human stories behind development issues around the world. We have seen some fantastic features from Fund recipients over the years, from reporters and photographers who have looked to communicate development stories though their own areas of interest or expertise, be that business, human rights, agriculture, fashion or sport, to name but a few.
“It is really important that these stories are being told so that we can fully understand the world around us. We are now looking for new project ideas that throw a spotlight on the challenges faced by people living in the developing world and explore the human ingenuity in tackling and overcoming them.”
An information session will be held at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Iveagh House, 80 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 on Tuesday, 4th June 2019 from 11am to 1pm. Media professionals who wish to attend should register by emailing info@simoncumbersmediafund.ie, with “Dublin Information Session” in the subject line.
The deadline for the submission of proposals is Friday, 21st June 2019. For more information about the Simon Cumbers Media Fund and the summer 2019 funding round, see www.simoncumbersmediafund.ie. Work completed by Fund recipients, along with a list of research resources, can also be found on the site.
