Press Releases 2007
 

THURSDAY 14TH JUNE 2007

 

 

 BCI ANNOUNCES NEW MEDIA RESEARCH FUNDING SCHEME

 

3 initial grants of €16,000 per project available in 2007

 

 

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has today announced details of a new media research funding scheme, offering individual project grants in the amount of €16,000 per grant per annum in the area of media and broadcasting research.

 

The grants are available to Irish and EU nationals engaged in academic research in a variety of settings including; continuing professional development schemes, researchers from within the broadcasting sector, academic staff and people pursuing academic qualifications. 

 

The Scheme is now open to applications and the closing date for their receipt is August 10th, 2007.  Projects received will be considered and scored before being put to a selection panel comprising two academics with media experience, a field or market researcher, senior BCI management, and a BCI board member.

Applicants will be informed of the selection panel’s decision by September 2007, with projects anticipated to begin during the final quarter of 2007.

 

In the first year of operation, the BCI aims to fund one short-term, stand-alone project of 3–9 months duration; one medium-term project lasting 12 - 18 months (potentially a Masters); and one longer-term project of 12–36 months (e.g. the first year of a three-year PhD).  The Commission is committed to the principle of multi-annual funding, subject to the satisfaction of relevant criteria.

 

The structure of the second year of the Media Research Funding Scheme will be developed according to how the Scheme performs in Year 1, with the option of continuing a combination of short, medium and long-term projects

 

“Research and innovation is a key driver of the broadcasting sector as reflected in the recently released BCI Research Policy. By initiating the Media Research Funding Scheme, the Commission is focusing on and delivering strategic research initiatives which will benefit the entire sector,” said Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

 

“Knowledge, data and research are crucial to the Commission in guiding and planning all aspects of its work, and a necessary resource for broadcasters who wish to constantly develop their programming and delivery.  This scheme will satisfy a need for research focussing on programme content, qualitative research on audience preferences and work examining changing cultural issues impacting upon broadcasting and media,” he concluded.

 

Details of the Media Research Funding Scheme are available on the Commission’s website www.bci.ie/research_reports/policy.html .

 

ENDS

Media Queries to:

Catherine Logan                                                      
Q4PR                                                            
01 475 1444 / 086 811 4785                 

 

Research related queries to:

Caroline Smyth
BCI
01 6441255
csmyth@bci.ie