Deadline: 14-Apr-21
Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering reporting grants to support the production of enterprise stories that will explore how international diplomacy is shaping environmental policy in Latin America as well as the health and well-being of certain communities.
Latin America is one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions, home to 40% of the Earth’s species, more than a quarter of its forests, and its second-largest reef system. But like much of the planet, the impacts of a warming climate are wreaking havoc on those rich ecosystems, endangering agricultural production and harming human health and livelihoods. Industrial activities, such as mining and deforestation, as well as the trade-in wildlife and forest products, are exacerbating these problems.
This project aims to provide new insight into Latin America’s environmental challenges and the region’s various policy responses. It will explore the political and economic implications of environmental policymaking, with a particular emphasis on how those decisions are playing out at a local level.
Story Themes
They welcome any story ideas that explore environmental and natural resource governance and the way the environmental policies of Latin American countries – particularly Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru – are shaping their foreign and economic relations. One example is how the EU is pushing back on a trade deal with Mercosur because of deforestation in Brazil. They are particularly interested in stories on environmental degradation related to extractive industries, deforestation, illegal and unregulated fishing, and more. Here are some questions applicants might consider in drafting their proposals:
- How are ties between countries in the region and those outside it, specifically the EU, China, and the US, shaping environmental policies in Latin America?
- How much political power do local extractive industries (including mining, fishing, and forestry) wield in Latin America and how do they affect policies and/or enforcement?
- What are the risks facing environmental activists/defenders in the region?
- How international climate conversations and the decisions might make at high-level conventions, such as UN climate talks, shape conditions at the local level?
- What’s the environmental impact of supply chains that facilitate the export of goods from Latin America to Europe, the US, China, and elsewhere?
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 and don’t provide new insights into the environmental challenges and opportunities in the region are less likely to be selected. For the purposes of this opportunity, they welcome stories that look at either land or ocean-based environmental issues.
Eligibility Criteria
- They will be accepting applications in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Applications written in a language other than these will not be considered. Applicants must either have a working understanding of English or Spanish or have a translator available to assist with communication with Internews staff. Writing samples can be in any language but will be subject to machine translation for judging.
- For the purposes of this grant, they are accepting applications from reporters in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
- 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. They also welcome applications from business reporters interested in reporting on the environment and economic linkages.
- They encourage applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations – international, national, local, and community-based.
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? Is the main idea, context, and overall value of the story clearly defined?
- Angle: If the story has been covered, does your proposal bring new insights to 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/investigating-environmental-policy-in-latin-america