Newsgroups: bit.listserv.euearn-l
Date:         Thu, 28 Jan 1993 10:39:27 EST
              <EUEARN-L@UBVM.BITNET>
From:         "bgcict::ososo"@ATGBOX.BITNET

     Dear Sir/Madame:

     I am  writing to  you as  a Program  Coordinator of the
Journalis Program of the Open Society Fund - Sofia (OSF). In
this letter I would like to present to you the activities of
the Program  and  to  express  our  willingness  for  future
cooperation in the field of mass media and jornalism.

     Under the Journalist Program the OSF supports the media
in Bulgaria  i.e. state  and private radio and TV broadcasts
and culture  oriented periodicals  (with daily  up to weekly
frequency).

     In  1992  the  budget  allocated  to  the  Program  was
$ 70.000 and  1.350.000 BG Leva /appr. $ 1 = 24 Leva/. About
40 individual  and team  projects were  supported from  this
budget. The  funding policy  of the  OSF  is  based  on  the
principle of  cost-sharing which means we fund projects that
have  already   been   supported   by   other   grant-giving
institutions or sponsors.


     Under the  Jounalist Program  we can provide support in
two ways:

     1. Grants.
     The grantee  is obliged  to present documented evidence
that the  grant was spent on the activities specified in the
agreement.
     The sum  is usually  transferred directly  to the  bank
account of the recipient.

     2. Technical equipment for temporary use.
     Computers, cameras,  audio-studio equipment property of
the OSF  is provided  to the  successful applicant/team  for
purposes of his project for certain period of time.


     The larges  amount for  the past  1992 of $ 23.000, was
granted  to   the  Bulgarian   National  Radio  for  a  1993
subscription  to  the  Reuter  Bulletin.  Second  comes  the
EPHIR 2 one  of  the  channels  of  the  Bulgarian  National
Television with  a grant  of $ 15.000  for an office player,
Radio Vitosha  - VOA  Sofia - $ 12.600 for studio equipment.
Some  T.V.  programmes  received  professional  cameras  for
temporary use.

     The Open  Society Fund - Sofia supported almost all new
private radio  stations that  have emerged recently in Sofia
and around  the country.  We have  assisted  them  with  the
computers that they have requested.

     Agains  this  background  the  grants  for  the  weekly
cultural periodicals  are much smaller. Literaturen Forum, a
weekly newspaper  that publishes  works of Bulgarian authors
received  244.000   Leva,  Kultura,  a  publication  of  the
Ministry of Culture - 200.000 Leva and 1000 Dni, a newspaper
- 100.000  Leva. This financial support was really vital for
these publications.  In addition  these periodicals use free
of charge the Publishing System of the Open Society Fund .

     Finally, under  the Journalist Program the OSF supports
individual  applications.   Among  the   most  frequent  are
requests  for   financial  aid   that  makes   possible  the
attendence    of    international    seminars,    workshops,
specializations abroad.  The Foundation  covers about 80% of
the travel expenses and provides per diem of about $ 300 - $
500 for the whole stay period.


     We are  aware of  the fact  that Radio  and  Television
received really  more attention  in the  past year.  Now  we
consider the professional qualification of the staff of much
bigger importance.  This might  be a  good direction for our
future cooperation.


     I hope  that this  brief Report gives you an impression
of our  recent activities, policy and intentions. Our future
priority will  be to  stimulate private  initiative  in  the
sphere of media.

     I will highly appreciate any ideas on your side.

     I believe we can find grounds for future cooperation.






     Yours sincerely,


     Tsena Mileva
     Program Coordinator
     Journalist Program
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
Subject: (no subject given)