Media Projects

Overview

<p>The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio, podcast, television, and long-form documentary film projects that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. All projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and demonstrate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical. The approach to the subject matter must go beyond the mere presentation of factual information to explore its larger significance and stimulate reflection.</p> <p>The Division of Public Programs encourages media projects that promote a deeper understanding of American history and culture and advance civic education. The Division of Public Programs also supports media projects that examine international themes and subjects in the humanities.</p> <p><strong>Film and television projects</strong> may be single programs or a series addressing significant figures, events, or ideas. Programs may be intended for regional or national distribution, via traditional carriage or online distribution. Films must be longer than thirty minutes.</p> <p><strong>Radio and podcast projects</strong> may involve single programs, limited series, or segments within an ongoing program. Production awards may be either broadcast or disseminated online. They may be intended for national or regional distribution.</p> <p>NEH encourages projects that engage public audiences through multiple formats. Proposed projects might include supplementary components to a film, television, radio, or podcast project: for example, book/film discussion programs, supplemental educational websites, or museum exhibitions.</p> <p>All projects applying to the Media Projects program must:</p> <ul> <li>build on sound humanities scholarship</li> <li>deepen public understanding of significant humanities questions</li> <li>approach a subject analytically, presenting a variety of perspectives</li> <li>involve humanities scholars in all phases of development and production</li> <li>involve appropriate media professionals</li> <li>employ appealing and accessible program formats that will actively engage the general public in learning</li> </ul> <p>Proposed programs must be guided by clear central ideas, and applicants must have a solid command of the major humanities scholarship on their subject. Applicants must have consulted with a team of scholarly advisers to develop the intellectual content that the program will explore. The scholars must represent major fields relevant to the subject matter, have a strong record of research and scholarship in the humanities, and offer diverse perspectives and approaches.</p> <p><strong>Development awards</strong> of up to $75,000 enable media producers to collaborate with scholars to develop humanities content and to prepare programs for production. Awards should result in a script (for documentary film and television programs) or detailed treatment(s) (for radio programs and podcasts). They may also yield a detailed plan for outreach and public engagement in collaboration with a partner organization or organizations.</p> <p><strong>Production awards</strong> (up to $700,000) should result in the production and distribution of radio, podcast, television, and long-form documentary film projects.</p> <p style="padding-left:30px">Chairman’s Special Awards: Within the Production level, NEH will occasionally make Chairman’s Special Awards (up to $1,000,000) for projects of exceptional significance, audience reach, and complexity. A Chairman’s Special Award project should examine important humanities ideas in new ways and demonstrate the potential to reach especially large audiences. These goals can often be accomplished through combining a variety of program formats, forming creative collaborations among diverse institutions, and significantly expanding the scope and reach of the project. Chairman’s Special Awards are rare; NEH typically awards no more than one Chairman’s Special Award per year.</p>