Deadline: 20-Nov-22
Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering reporting grants to support the production of in-depth stories that highlight previously untold threats to global biodiversity or explore new conservation-based solutions.
The media has an important part to play in raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity issues and enabling citizens, policymakers and private companies to determine how they can better address the drivers of biodiversity loss. To support journalists around the world to produce engaging and fact-based stories for their home audiences, EJN is offering story grants through the Biodiversity Media Initiative, with financial support from Arcadia, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.
Story Themes
- For this particular grant opportunity, they are interested in funding ambitious stories that use innovative multimedia, collaborative or investigative approaches.
- Special consideration will be given to applicants looking to conduct in-depth cross-border or enterprise reporting on biodiversity or conservation topics. Proposals for data journalism and geojournalism are welcome.
- This year, themes they are interested in supporting include (but are not limited to):
- Under-reported stories of trafficking of endangered flora and fauna and its impacts
- New or little-known threats to species diversity
- New methods to track environmental crimes such as illegal mining and logging and other drivers of biodiversity loss
- 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
- As they are looking to raise global awareness about new threats or solutions, 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, high-impact angles are less likely to be selected.
Funding Information
- They expect to award story grants of up to $5,000 each, depending on the proposal and needs.
- They plan to issue grants in December 2022 with the expectation that all stories will be published by June 2023 at the latest. Applicants should consider this timeline when drafting their workplan.
Eligibility Criteria
- For the purposes of this grant call, they are only accepting applications for stories focused on the countries, though journalists from any country can apply.
- Applications are open to journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with experience in investigative reporting and covering environmental issues.
- They encourage applications from freelancers and staff from all types of media organizations—international, national, local and community-based.
- They’ll accept both individual and group applications, but for the latter they ask that the application is made in the name of one lead applicant who will receive the grant on the group’s behalf, if awarded.
- EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct.
Judging Criteria
- Applicants should consider the following points when devising their story proposals.
- Relevance: Does the proposal meet the criteria and objectives of the call? Why does this story matter and to whom? Are the main idea, context and overall value to the target audience clearly defined?
- Angle: If the story has been covered by mainstream media, does your proposal bring new insights into the topic or offer a fresh angle?
- Impact: Does the proposal have a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and urge action?
- Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches, multimedia and data visualization will be considered a plus.
For more information, visit https://earthjournalism.net/opportunities/biodiversity-story-grants-2022