Deadline: 01-Jul-2026
The Earth Journalism Network is accepting applications from journalists and media practitioners in the Western Balkans to strengthen biodiversity reporting and improve public engagement on nature and conservation issues. The fully funded programme will support approximately 12 selected participants with training, expert engagement, field learning, and practical tools for reporting on biodiversity, climate change, conservation, and environmental policy.
Programme Overview
The Earth Journalism Network is inviting applications for a fully funded workshop designed to support journalists from the Western Balkans in reporting on biodiversity and environmental protection.
The programme aims to improve public understanding of nature, conservation challenges, environmental policy, and biodiversity protection across the region.
Selected journalists will take part in thematic and skills-based training sessions, engage with experts and communities, and participate in a field visit to a relevant biodiversity or conservation site.
Programme Purpose
The purpose of the workshop is to strengthen regional journalism capacity on biodiversity and nature reporting.
The programme will help journalists better understand ecological systems, biodiversity threats, policy frameworks, conservation solutions, and the role of journalism in informing public debate and accountability.
It also supports investigative, data-informed, and collaborative journalism approaches that can improve coverage of biodiversity issues in the Western Balkans.
Key Focus Areas
The workshop focuses on biodiversity protection, environmental journalism, and public engagement.
Key focus areas include:
- Biodiversity protection in the Western Balkans
- Nature and conservation reporting
- International environmental agreements
- National and regional environmental policy frameworks
- Threats from tourism and unregulated construction
- Links between biodiversity, climate change, and public health
- Nature-based solutions
- EU accession and environmental policy
- Renewable energy transitions
- Digital tools for environmental monitoring
- Satellite imagery for biodiversity reporting
- Artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring
- Benefit-sharing from digital sequence information
- Investigative environmental journalism
- Collaborative reporting approaches
- Audience engagement and public communication
Who Is Eligible?
The opportunity is open to journalists and media practitioners from selected Western Balkan countries.
Eligible countries include:
Applicants may work across print, online, radio, or television platforms.
Eligible Media Professionals
The programme is open to both freelance and staff journalists.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Freelance journalists
- Staff journalists
- Media practitioners
- Reporters from local media outlets
- Reporters from national media outlets
- Reporters from international media outlets
- Reporters from community media outlets
- Journalists working in print media
- Journalists working in online media
- Journalists working in radio
- Journalists working in television
Priority Applicants
Priority will be given to applicants who can bring diverse perspectives and strengthen underrepresented voices in environmental journalism.
Priority groups include:
- Women journalists
- Rural journalists
- Early-career journalists
Applicants should also demonstrate interest in biodiversity, conservation, climate change, environmental policy, or public-interest reporting.
Programme Language and Participation Requirements
The programme will be conducted in English.
Applicants must demonstrate working proficiency in English and must be able to actively participate in all sessions.
Participants should be prepared to join discussions, attend all training activities, engage with experts, and take part in the field visit.
Fully Funded Support
The programme is fully funded for approximately 12 selected participants.
Covered costs include:
- Travel
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Training participation
- Field visit participation
Applicants should ensure they are available for the full duration of the programme before applying.
Training Structure
The workshop will combine thematic learning, practical skills training, expert engagement, and field-based learning.
Programme components include:
- Thematic sessions on biodiversity and conservation
- Skills-based journalism training
- Discussions with researchers
- Engagement with policymakers
- Interaction with civil society representatives
- Engagement with local communities
- Field visit to a relevant site
- Practical learning on environmental reporting tools
- Guidance on audience engagement and storytelling
Key Learning Areas
Participants will strengthen their understanding of biodiversity and environmental reporting.
Learning areas include:
- How biodiversity systems work
- Why biodiversity matters globally and regionally
- How environmental agreements affect local reporting
- How climate change and biodiversity loss are connected
- How biodiversity affects public health
- How tourism and construction can threaten ecosystems
- How renewable energy transitions affect nature and communities
- How to use reliable data sources
- How to work with scientific and policy experts
- How to use digital tools in environmental journalism
- How to build stronger audience engagement around nature stories
Use of Digital Tools
The programme will explore the use of digital tools to support environmental monitoring and reporting.
These tools may include:
- Satellite imagery
- Artificial intelligence tools
- Data platforms
- Open-source environmental monitoring resources
- Digital mapping tools
- Remote sensing resources
These tools can help journalists identify environmental changes, verify claims, track land-use changes, monitor threats, and improve the accuracy of biodiversity reporting.
AI Disclosure Requirement
Applicants are expected to disclose any use of generative AI tools in their application.
Applications that are unethical, misleading, or misrepresented may be disqualified.
This requirement supports transparency, originality, and trust in the application process.
Why This Programme Matters
Biodiversity loss is a major environmental and public-interest issue in the Western Balkans. Threats such as unregulated construction, tourism pressure, climate change, habitat loss, and weak policy implementation can affect ecosystems, communities, health, and livelihoods.
This programme matters because journalists play a key role in explaining complex biodiversity issues to the public. Strong reporting can improve awareness, support accountability, highlight community experiences, and bring attention to conservation solutions.
By training journalists in biodiversity science, policy, data use, and storytelling, the programme helps strengthen environmental journalism across the region.
How the Programme Works
The programme works by selecting a small group of journalists and providing them with fully funded training and field exposure.
The process includes:
- Journalists and media practitioners submit applications.
- Applicants disclose any use of generative AI tools in their application.
- Eligible applications are reviewed based on relevance, motivation, experience, and programme priorities.
- Approximately 12 participants are selected.
- Selected journalists are notified in July 2026.
- The final agenda is shared in August 2026.
- Participants attend thematic and skills-based sessions in English.
- Participants engage with researchers, policymakers, civil society representatives, and local communities.
- Participants join a field visit to a relevant site.
- Journalists use the learning to improve biodiversity and conservation reporting.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear and honest application that explains their background, motivation, reporting interests, and ability to participate.
Application Preparation Steps
- Confirm country eligibility
Applicants should ensure they are from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, or Kosovo. - Confirm media eligibility
Applicants should be journalists or media practitioners working in print, online, radio, television, local, national, international, or community media. - Demonstrate English proficiency
Applicants should be able to understand and communicate in English, as the workshop will be conducted in English. - Explain reporting interest
The application should clearly describe the applicant’s interest in biodiversity, conservation, climate change, environmental policy, or public-interest journalism. - Highlight relevant experience
Applicants should mention previous reporting experience, especially any work related to environment, communities, science, health, climate, policy, or local development. - Show commitment to participation
Applicants should confirm their ability to participate actively in all sessions and the field visit. - Disclose generative AI use
Applicants must disclose any use of generative AI tools in preparing the application. - Prepare an ethical and original submission
Applications should be truthful, original, and not misrepresented.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting weak, incomplete, or misleading applications.
Common mistakes include:
- Not confirming country eligibility
- Failing to show a clear link to journalism or media work
- Not demonstrating interest in biodiversity or conservation reporting
- Providing vague motivation statements
- Not showing ability to participate in English
- Failing to disclose generative AI use
- Submitting misrepresented or unethical content
- Ignoring the requirement to participate in all sessions
- Not explaining how the training will improve future reporting
- Submitting an application that lacks public-interest focus
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly show why the applicant is suited for the programme and how they will use the training.
Applicants should:
- Explain why biodiversity reporting matters in their country or community
- Mention specific environmental issues they want to cover
- Show interest in science, policy, and community-based reporting
- Highlight any past journalism experience
- Explain how the workshop will strengthen their reporting skills
- Show commitment to ethical and accurate journalism
- Demonstrate willingness to use data and expert sources
- Be clear about how they will engage audiences
- Keep the application honest and focused
- Disclose any generative AI use transparently
Key Terms Explained
Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals, ecosystems, habitats, and genetic diversity.
Biodiversity Reporting
Biodiversity reporting is journalism that covers nature, ecosystems, species, conservation, environmental threats, and the policies or communities connected to them.
Nature-Based Solutions
Nature-based solutions are approaches that use natural systems to address environmental and social challenges, such as flood protection, climate adaptation, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity conservation.
Environmental Journalism
Environmental journalism is reporting on issues related to nature, climate, pollution, biodiversity, energy, land use, public health, and environmental policy.
Digital Sequence Information
Digital sequence information refers to genetic data from plants, animals, microbes, or other organisms that may be used in research, conservation, and innovation.
Satellite Imagery
Satellite imagery refers to images and data collected from satellites that can help monitor environmental changes, land use, deforestation, construction, and habitat loss.
Audience Engagement
Audience engagement means using storytelling, multimedia, community outreach, and communication strategies to help readers, listeners, or viewers understand and respond to important issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Earth Journalism Network workshop about?
The workshop supports journalists from the Western Balkans to strengthen biodiversity reporting and improve public engagement on nature and conservation issues.
Who can apply?
Journalists and media practitioners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo can apply.
Which types of journalists are eligible?
Freelancers and staff journalists from local, national, international, and community media outlets are eligible. Applicants may work in print, online, radio, or television.
Is the programme fully funded?
Yes. The programme is fully funded and covers travel, accommodation, and meals for approximately 12 selected participants.
What language will the programme use?
The programme will be conducted in English. Applicants must have working proficiency in English.
What topics will the workshop cover?
The workshop will cover biodiversity protection, environmental agreements, tourism and construction threats, climate change, public health, nature-based solutions, EU accession, renewable energy transitions, digital tools, satellite imagery, AI, and environmental journalism practices.
Will participants meet experts?
Yes. Participants will engage with researchers, policymakers, civil society representatives, and local communities working on biodiversity and environmental protection.
When will selected journalists be notified?
Selected journalists will be notified in July 2026.
When will the final agenda be shared?
The final agenda will be shared in August 2026.
Are applicants allowed to use generative AI tools?
Applicants may use generative AI tools, but they must disclose their use. Unethical or misrepresented submissions may be disqualified.
Conclusion
The Earth Journalism Network workshop offers journalists from the Western Balkans a fully funded opportunity to strengthen biodiversity reporting, improve environmental storytelling, and build stronger public engagement on nature and conservation issues. By combining expert sessions, field learning, digital tools, and practical journalism training, the programme will help selected participants produce more accurate, informed, and impactful reporting on biodiversity challenges and solutions across the region.
For more information, visit EJN.
