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Cowbird

New PIC & Cowbird Digital Storytelling Project

Posted on January 29, 2016

THE PLACES WE CALL HOME - New Digital Storytelling Grant Opportunity

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 AT 5:00 PM HST.

Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) is excited to announce a new digital community storytelling project in partnership with Cowbird, a participatory journalism and storytelling website.  This project will center on collections of stories about Pacific Islanders and the places they call home, told through photos, video, audio recordings, and writing. It will reflect the way digital media is changing storytelling, while cultivating new creators and audiences for Pacific Islander media content, enhancing the public’s recognition of and appreciation for Pacific Islander history and culture.

We are looking for producers with a creative approach to the theme, a connection to the community and/or topic to be addressed, and a background in photography, audio, and writing to help capture these stories. Our aim is to support the development of Pacific Islander producers and storytellers as creators of new media, fostering their creative skill-set for the digital age.  We especially encourage young Pacific Islander producers to apply.

The deadline to submit an application form is Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 5:00 PM HST.

Project Details:

  • The project will ask selected producers to create at least one thematic collection of 5-10 Cowbird stories -- autobiographical or community focused  -- that will offer a unique perspective on the places Pacific Islanders call home today. The stories should include both text and audio. 
  • Each collection will be accompanied by a 200-300 word introductory essay to provide context and will be displayed as part of a visual collection at Cowbird and PIC's website.
  • Producers will receive a stipend of $2,000 and digital storytelling mentorship as part of the project. Producers will work with editing oversight and logistical support from Cowbird and PIC during the project.
  • Producers will have 1-2 months to complete and deliver their collections, depending on the project. A deadline will be set based on the scope of each project. 
  • Being part of or having a close relationship to the community you are proposing to tell stories about is not a requirement, but will be viewed favorably in the application process.  

Visit these Cowbird collections for examples of the storytelling approaches we're looking for:

PBS.org Black Culture Connection - MOVEMENTS: Behind the lens of Black Civil Rights Movements 1940-2015

National Geographic - Pine Ridge Community Storytelling Project

 


Learn more about Cowbird:

Categories: Funding, Projects, Training