With support from the Media Program of the Open Society Foundations, IAMCR is offering up to five grants for research conducted by young and emerging scholars. IAMCR's Global Media Policy Working Group, Emerging Scholars Network and Communication Policy Task Force will oversee, administer and award the grants.
Call for Proposals
IAMCR Rapid Response Grants on Communication Policy for Emerging Media and Communications Scholars
The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) is offering, with the support of the Media Program of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), up to 5 “Rapid Response Grants” for research conducted by young and emerging scholars. The IAMCR Global Media Policy Working Group, in collaboration with the IAMCR Emerging Scholars Network and the IAMCR Communication Policy Task Force, will oversee, administer and award the grants. The grant program emerges from the ongoing work by both IAMCR and OSF on questions of current media and communications policy. In particular, it relates to the IAMCR’s Mapping Global Media Policy project and the OSF’s Mapping Digital Media research initiative. More information about both initiatives is available at http://www.globalmediapolicy.net and http://www.mappingdigitalmedia.org.
Who can apply?
Graduate and postgraduate students, and scholars in the early stages of their career (lecturers and assistant professors), who are researching the subject areas covered by this grant scheme. IAMCR members and applicants who are planning to attend the IAMCR 2014 conference in Hyderabad, India (15-19 July 2014) will be prioritized.
What research will be funded?
IAMCR and OSF wish to support the development of new and critical knowledge in several topic areas within the broader terrain of media and communications policy where new trends are emerging and where research gaps exist. These topic areas may include the following:
- Digital rights, internet policy and press freedom after PRISM and Tempora
- Upcoming international policy debates, particularly WSIS+10 (processes, agendas, debates)
- Digital broadcasting and inclusion
- Enhancing media literacy in the digital age
- Media policy change in specific countries (such as those covered by the Mapping Digital Media project)
- Citizen participation, advocacy, and the public interest information environment
Proposals dealing with one of these thematic areas will be prioritized, although other topics can be proposed by applicants. Gaps in these fields range from the poor availability and quality of data, to a lack of understanding of current trends, the lack of awareness of significant research in languages other than English, and challenges in applying research to frontline advocacy and activism for better media and communications policy. Research that will be funded might provide significant new scholarship in one of the above areas, or detailed reviews of existing scholarship (incl. research from other languages and contexts), and will seek to contribute rigorous analysis that helps inform policy debates and/or civil society advocacy on media and communications policy. Grants will be awarded up to an individual maximum of U$D 5,000, although they will vary according to the type of the proposed project. Selection will be based on thematic focus, originality, rigour and feasibility, and grants will be paid in two installments (at the beginning and at the end of the project).
Grants
The grants will serve two purposes:
- remuneration for the researcher’s labour and expenses
- allow the researcher to attend the IAMCR 2014 conference in Hyderabad, and contribute to the payment of related travel etc. expenses
Deliverables
Each grantee is expected to deliver three different types of output:
- Final research report (academic research paper) of 6-8,000 words. Reports/papers will be published on the websites mediapolicy.org and globalmediapolicy.net.
- ‘Research in progress’. Provide, for example, a regular online research diary; data entries for the database globalmediapolicy.net; or blog entries with research updates on mediapolicy.org; (depending on the type of project)
- Presentation of research results at the IAMCR 2014 conference in Hyderabad (15-19 June 2013).
Hw to apply
Send the following documents to rapidresponsegrants@iamcr.org by 10 November 2013:
- Personal statement outlining motivation and experience (800 words max.)
- Project description including: topic and rationale, research goals, research plan (with timeline), deliverables (incl. proposed ‘research in progress’ output), and budget (1000 words max.). Please specify whether you have (or have applied for) financial resources for this project from other sources.
- CV
- For graduate/postgraduate students: Short reference letter from dissertation supervisor
In line with IAMCR’s promotion of multilingualism, we invite applications in English, French and Spanish. However we ask for reports and deliverables to be submitted in English.
Timeline
10 November 2013 – Deadline for submission of project proposals
30 November 2013 – Selection of grantees
December 2013-March 2014 – Research, ‘research in process’ updates
30 March 2014 – Submission of draft research reports
April 2014 – Review of draft reports
May-June 2014 - Revision of draft reports
30 June 2014 – Publication of final reports
15-19 July 2014 – Presentation of final reports at IAMCR 2014 in Hyderabad
Grant program structure and partners
Content – thematic development, review of proposals and draft reports, support of the research process: IAMCR Global Media Policy Working Group, in collaboration with the IAMCR Emerging Scholars Network, the IAMCR Communication Policy Task Force, and the OSF Media Program.
Administrative and financial management: IAMCR Global Media Policy Working Group, in collaboration with the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies (JOMEC) at Cardiff University, UK. OSF provides all funding for the grants.
Contact
For more information, contact Arne Hintz, Cardiff University.
Download this CfP in .pdf format