News

13 Apr Photojournalists: Apply for our new $1,000 Passion Projects grant

For the first time, the Society of Professional Journalists Western Washington chapter will offer a “Passion Project” grant for Northwest photojournalists.

The Pew Research Center reported photographers and visual journalists have been the newsroom staffers hit hardest by layoffs throughout the United States. Their jobs have been trimmed by about half during the last 10 years.

More than ever, photographers and videographers are self-funding important documentary projects within our communities. This SPJ Passional Projects professional grant will award $1,000 to help a visual journalist continue a self-initiated project.

Grants are open to professional photographers and videographers in Washington state. All submissions must be documentary-style projects, and should be focused on social, environmental or issues of social concern. Proposals will be judged by merits of the project, the applicant’s photographic skills and the likelihood the photojournalist will accomplish the project.

The selected project will receive recognition at the annual SPJ awards gala banquet.

Those interested in applying, please email your proposal to spjwash@gmail.com by May 5, 2015. Please mark the subject line of the email “Passion Projects.”

In the proposal, please include:

• SYNOPSIS: In fewer than 30 words, write a summary of the project.
• PROPOSAL: A written proposal of fewer than 800 words describing the still or multimedia project and how it would be presented to the public. Photographers may propose projects that are already in progress or in the early stages. Please include relevant research, contacts and photographs associated with the project.
• WEBSITE: Please include the photojournalist’s web page.
• GALA: The photographer selected must attend SPJ Gala banquet to receive the award.

We can’t wait to see what develops. Best of luck!