By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Earth Journalism Network is offering reporting grants to journalists to support the production of in-depth stories on biodiversity.
This grant is open to pitches for ambitious stories that make use of innovative multimedia, collaborative, cross-border or investigative approaches to deepen coverage of biodiversity or conservation topics. Proposals related to data journalism and geojournalism are also encouraged.
The themes of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Under-reported stories of trade and trafficking of endangered flora and fauna and its impacts
- New methods to track environmental crimes such as illegal mining and logging, and other drivers of biodiversity loss
- New or little-known threats to species diversity, e.g., cryptocurrency mining, seabed mining
- Biodiversity credits or biodiversity offsets
- Biodiversity and conservation in urban areas
- OECMs (other effective area-based conservation measures)
- Innovative, potentially scalable conservation solutions led by communities, governments or corporations
- Efforts to boost “green” and “blue” economies to enable development that conserves rather than exploits the environment
- New or proposed policies which could be either harmful or beneficial to biodiversity
- Benefit-sharing from digital sequence information and its possibilities and risks
- Misinformation or misunderstandings around certain species.
Eligibility
- Only applications for stories focused on countries classified as low- or middle-income by the World Bank though journalists from any country can apply.
- Applications from West Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and specifically from the following countries: Dominican Republic, Honduras and Kyrgyzstan are particularly encouraged.
- Projects in biodiversity-rich regions of the world, or projects in countries facing unprecedented biodiversity loss.
- Groups of journalists are eligible. However, the application must be made in the name of one lead applicant. Lead applicants are responsible for communicating with EJN and receiving funds on the group’s behalf, if awarded.
- Only English submissions are accepted.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with professional reporting experience.
- We welcome applications from early-career journalists and experienced reporters with a track record of covering biodiversity issues.
- We encourage applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations—international, national, local and community-based.
Benefits:
10 grants with an average budget of 1,000-2,000 EUR each.
Follow this link to begin yourapplication
Earth Journalism Network is offering grants to journalists for producing in-depth multimedia stories on biodiversity, emphasizing innovative and collaborative approaches. They encourage proposals related to topics such as illegal wildlife trade, environmental crimes, threats to species diversity, urban conservation, and green economy initiatives. Eligible applicants must focus on low- or middle-income countries, with priority given to West Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and biodiversity-rich regions. Journalists of any medium and experience level can apply, but the lead applicant must communicate on behalf of group projects. Ten grants will be awarded, each ranging from 1,000-2,000 EUR. Applications must be in English and can come from freelancers or newsroom staff. For more details and to apply, visit the Earth Journalism Network's website.
