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ETV+ Media Training Grant (DOSEST 16 GR 002) - FAQs

1) What is the ETV+ Media Training grant opportunity?

The ETV+ Media Training grant (Funding Opportunity Number DOSEST 16 GR 002) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy Tallinn Public Affairs Section. It supports a hands-on training program designed to strengthen professional television production capacity in Estonia.

2) What is the main goal of this grant?

The core purpose is skills development in practical camera work and live production. The program is intended to improve the ability of local ETV camera operators to produce strong video content, including live inserts from both studio environments and outdoor/open-air events.

3) Who is the training intended to benefit?

The training is intended for a small group of local ETV camera operators in Estonia. The anticipated trainee group size is up to five operators, suggesting an intensive, practical, and tailored training format.

4) Is there a regional focus within Estonia?

Yes. The opportunity specifically highlights the needs of productions in the northeast region of Estonia, including the Narva area.

5) What skills and topics should the training cover?

Proposed programs are expected to address hands-on, practical production skills, including:

• Practical camera work and live production fundamentals
• Producing strong video for live inserts from a studio and from outdoor/open-air events
• Producing video for studio talk shows
• Improving on-camera interview shooting techniques
• Strengthening technical and creative foundations of camera operation
• Organizational practices and teamwork for professional broadcasts
• Coordinating multiple cameras simultaneously in live or live-to-tape environments
• Raising overall video quality through better use of lighting systems

6) What does the grant emphasize beyond individual camera skills?

In addition to individual technical ability, the opportunity emphasizes operational readiness. This includes training on organizational practices and teamwork approaches needed for professional broadcasts, such as coordinating multi-camera work in live or live-to-tape production settings.

7) Is improving lighting part of the expected training scope?

Yes. A specific technical improvement area named in the opportunity is improving overall video quality through better use of lighting systems.

8) Where will the training take place?

The program is designed to be split between Estonia and the United States. It includes on-site instruction in Narva, Estonia, and an immersive training component in the United States at a learning studio (a professional training facility or studio-based instructional environment).

9) What is planned for the Estonia-based portion of the program?

The program should bring American trainers to the ETV studio in Narva for roughly one week of on-site instruction.

10) Is interpretation required during the Narva training?

Yes. Because the working language environment may include Russian-speaking participants, the project should provide a Russian-English interpreter during the Narva portion.

11) What is planned for the U.S.-based portion of the program?

The program should include an immersive U.S. training component lasting one week to ten days at a learning studio. This portion is intended to allow participants to observe, practice, and learn in a U.S. setting with exposure to American expertise and production workflows.

12) How long is the overall training expected to be?

Based on the described structure, the training includes roughly one week in Narva, Estonia, plus a one-week to ten-day immersive session in the United States.

13) When is the preferred timing for the U.S. training segment?

The preferred timing for the U.S. training segment is July or August. This aligns with the period when the ETV production team is typically on leave, helping reduce scheduling conflicts and making travel and participation easier.

14) What is the maximum award amount for this grant?

The award ceiling is $60,000.

15) Who is offering this grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy Tallinn Public Affairs Section.

16) What type of grant is this?

It is a discretionary grant.

17) What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is Education, reflecting the training and capacity-building focus of the project.

18) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DOSEST 16 GR 002.

19) When was the opportunity posted and created?

The posting and creation dates are May 24, 2016.

20) What is the application deadline?

The application deadline (original and current) is June 25, 2016.

21) Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
• Nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses
• Small businesses

22) Is the training expected to be lecture-based or hands-on?

The opportunity describes the training as hands-on and practical, and the small trainee group size (up to five) suggests an intensive, tailored approach rather than a large lecture-style course.

23) What production formats are specifically mentioned as targets for improvement?

The grant description specifically mentions improving the ability to produce video for live inserts (from studio and outdoor settings), studio talk shows, and on-camera interview shooting.

24) Does the opportunity include training for multi-camera coordination?

Yes. A key expectation is strengthening teamwork and coordination, including the ability to coordinate multiple cameras simultaneously in live or live-to-tape environments.