Deadline extended till 23 November 2018
Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) are seeking proposals from Asia and the Pacific for its Environmental Story Grants to produce stories focused on promoting free speech and the environment in the region.
Successful applications will show how information can empower at-risk communities to make better decisions and build resilience.
Grant Information
Internews and SEAPA offer grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 depending on the scope, method of coverage and reporting (e.g. multiple platforms such as print and broadcast), with some flexibility for in-depth stories using innovative, multimedia, and investigative approaches that may be more costly to produce.
Essential
- Proposed stories must:
- Focus on climate and environmental change, or natural resource management issues in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, or Papua New Guinea
- Stories may include, but are not limited to, those:
- Focusing on women, youth and indigenous peoples and their ability to adapt to environmental or climate change.
- Reporting on solutions and the coping strategies of vulnerable communities while amplifying their voices on cultural heritage and environmental protection.
- Seeking to turn global issues into local stories or stories which take local issues to a global audience.
- Supporting silenced communities find a voice to protect their cultural heritage and environment.
- Unlikely to be published/broadcast in their local media owing to censorship, restrictions (legal or otherwise), or risks of retaliation
- Internews and SEAPA also encourage proposals which rely on collaboration and network building amongst journalists, advocates, and the community.
Eligibility Criteria
- Environmental Journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other media practitioners, including freelancers, with a track record of reporting on climate change, natural resource management and other environmental issues are welcome to apply.
- Journalists working outside the country capital and in alternative or community media, as well as women journalists are strongly encouraged to submit proposals.
- The grants are open to journalists from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
- Collaborative proposals from journalists, environmental advocates, researchers, bloggers and/or other members of communities are welcome, provided journalists take the lead in developing joint stories. Joint applications must involve a maximum of three individuals and will be subject to a single grant.
- Grantees are free to publish or broadcast their stories in their target media outlets other media while Internews and SEAPA will reserve the right to publish, broadcast, and distribute them freely. All stories will be posted on at least one of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network’s Geojournalism platforms: Mekong Eye, Ekuatorial or Infopacific.
Selection Criteria
Relevance and clarity of the story plan. Does the proposal meet the program criteria and objectives? Are the main idea, context and overall value to the target audience clearly framed?
- Has the story been done before? Does it seek to go beyond the news cycle and promise new insights into the topic? Does it offer a fresh take on a familiar or enduring issue? Is this an innovative approach to storytelling?
- Strength and impact. Does the pitch have the potential to be transformed into a compelling narrative or investigative piece that will inform and engage, draw attention, spur debate, and urge action?
- Can the project, based on the expected output and work plan, be realistically completed within the target time frame, notwithstanding the anticipated challenges?
- Does the applicant’s experience, published work, personal statement, and letters of recommendations warrant timely and quality outputs? Does he/she have the ability to tap good sources and conduct as much reporting/research as necessary? Can he/she analyze and unravel the complexities of an issue?
- Demonstrated Need: Without this grant, is this story likely to be published/broadcast?
- Overall quality of the proposal and anticipated impact of the story: Has the applicant put effort into presenting a strong case? (Allowances will be made for applicants whose first language is not English.)
- Diversity: This applies to applicants and story themes.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply online via given website.
For more information, please visit Environmental Story Grants.