The Leibner Cooper Grant for Creative Productions on the History of Media is a $2,500 grant awarded annually to a faculty member who is producing a documentary, news story, multimedia project or sports production focused on historical issues, figures and/or events related to media.  The project can be either a work in progress or a concept you are getting off the ground.  The goal of the grant is to offer support to BEA’s creative faculty members.  Applicants must be current BEA individual members.

Award History

BEA, in partnership with the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF), offers this grant thanks to the generous support of the Leibner Cooper Family Foundation.  The gift is in celebration of Richard Leibner and Carole Cooper’s devotion to media education.

Carole Cooper and Richard Leibner have nurtured and advanced the careers of many of the leading journalists of our time and whose firm N.S. Bienstock has been synonymous with quality journalism for more than 50 years. Leibner and Cooper are co-presidents of Bienstock, a talent agency serving many of the biggest television news personalities, including Anderson Cooper, Megyn Kelly, Steve Kroft, David Muir, Norah O’Donnell, Robin Roberts, Bill Whitaker, and many more. Bienstock was acquired by United Talent Agency in 2014, but remains under the management of Leibner and Cooper.

Eligibility

• Nominees must be a current BEA individual member.
• Nominees must be producing a documentary, news story, multimedia project or sports production focused on historical issues, figures and/or events related to media.

Timeline

September 1, 2024: Nominations open

December 15, 2024: Nominations close

February 15, 2025: Leibner Cooper Grant recipient announced

April 6, 2025: Grant winner recognized during the BEA2025 Opening Awards Ceremony

April 6-9, 2025: BEA2025 annual convention