Deadline:February 25, 2021, 11:59 PM, (UTC -11)
Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering reporting grants to support the production of investigative stories that will call attention to critical ocean issues.
The world relies on the oceans to support the needs of our growing population, whether those needs be sustenance, economic growth, climate regulation or even the air we breathe. Yet this incredibly important but fragile resource is suffering unsustainable depletion, environmental deterioration and acidification, affecting the communities that rely on it and bringing us closer to climate catastrophe.
Through this reporting grant, EJN will commission stories that seek to investigate emerging and long-standing issues facing ocean conservation and sustainable use to capture the importance and urgency of the threats facing our world’s waters.
These grants are part of a larger project being carried out by EJN to try and increase and improve reporting on ocean issues.
Story Themes:
EJN welcomes any story ideas that will investigate threats to the conservation or sustainable use of the oceans.
Before submitting your application, EJN suggests applicants review Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. The targets under this SDG highlight some of the most pressing issues facing the oceans, including marine pollution, ocean acidification and overfishing. EJN will give special consideration to pitches that relate to one or more of these targets, as well as to proposals that will examine intersections between the Covid-19 pandemic and ocean conservation.
Proposals that focus on topics or stories that have not been widely covered are preferred. Issues that have already received a lot of media coverage or don’t provide unique angles to ocean challenges are less likely to be selected.
Grants:
- 4-6 grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the proposal and needs outlined in the budget submission.
- EJN will consider larger grant amounts for stories using innovative or investigative approaches that may be more costly and time-consuming.
Eligibilities:
- Applications written in a language other than these will not be considered. Applicants must either have a working understanding of English or Portuguese, or have a translator available to assist with communication with Internews staff.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with experience in investigative reporting and covering environmental issues. EJN encourages applications from freelancer reporters and staff from all types of media organizations – international, national, local and community-based.
- EJN is seeking to support both early-career and senior journalists with many years of reporting experience. They will accept both individual and group applications, but for the latter EJN asks that the application is made in the name of one lead applicant who will receive the grant on the group’s behalf, if awarded.
