Deadline: 31-Mar-23
The Earth Journalism Network’s Mediterranean Media Initiative is looking to support investigations, especially those that are transboundary, which seek to expose unauthorized fishing by industrial or semi-industrial vessels, as well as other harmful environmental practices impacting the marine environment.
The types of investigations they are looking to support would place these issues within the wider context of anthropogenic stressors such as biodiversity loss, climate change and increased pollution and their impact on human security and environmental justice.
The Mediterranean Media Initiative has secured funding from the Adessium Foundation to commission transboundary investigations and work collectively with partners wishing to develop reports focusing on the Mediterranean.
In addition to providing journalists with a story grant, the EJN Med Media team would be providing capacity support which includes:
- Participation in a dedicated 90-minute webinar featuring investigation and thematic experts,
- Access to the investigative expertise of EJN Med Media Director Mona Samari, contributing author on Oceanic Crime, Spheres of Transnational Ecoviolence: Environmental Crime, Human Security, and Justice, by Peter Stoett and Delon Alain Omrow;
- Access to satellite tracking, illegal fishing, and thematic experts able to cross-reference data and evidence, if required;
- Tutorial in evidence cross-referencing of satellite data;
- Resource materials, including related to effective use of encryption.
Funding Information
- They expect to award 5 grants with a budget of up to 4000 Euros each.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants may come from any country bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
- EJN’s Mediterranean Media Initiative can award up to 4000 Euros per investigative project to cover the cost of the investigation, with the aim of awarding 5 such sub-grants over the course of the next 10 months to their investigation media partners.
- 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.
- For the purposes of this grant opportunity, they will only be accepting written applications in English or French. Unfortunately, they do not have the capacity to consider applications in other languages at this time. Applicants must have a working understanding of English and French. The story can be published in the local language.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with professional reporting experience. They welcome applications from early-career journalists and experienced reporters with a track record of environmental issues. They encourage applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations – international, national, local and community-based.
- 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? Is the main idea, context and overall value to the target audience 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 spur action?
- Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches, multimedia and data visualization will be considered a plus.
- Plan for timely publication: Reporters, whether freelance or employed at a media outlet, will need to include a letter of support from an editor in their application, committing to publish the stories by September 30, 2023.
For more information, visit EJN.