Deadline: 23 February 2018
The Internews Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is seeking proposals for its Asia-Pacific Story Grants to support the production of in-depth stories that provide information that can empower communities at risk of environmental and climate change impacts to make better decisions about their options and build their resilience.
Story Themes
- EJN welcomes all story ideas that capture the efforts of vulnerable local communities – particularly women, youth and indigenous peoples – to adapt to challenges posed by the changing environment or climate. In view of the common bias among media outlets to report on problems, EJN encourages stories that report on solutions and the coping strategies of vulnerable communities. Given the technicality that often comes with environmental journalism, EJN is also interested in stories that collect data and information on the causes and impacts of environmental and climate change, and report on them in a compelling and easy-to-understand fashion.
- EJN encourages applicants to turn global issues into local stories that are relevant to local audiences, or on the other hand, report on local or regional environmental issues in a way that can attract attention at an international level. Finally, EJN is keen to support stories with the potential of informing policy decisions related to domestic or regional environmental protection, such as regional cooperation on climate change and other transboundary environmental issues.
Story Formats
- EJN is offering grants up to $2,000 depending on the proposal and method of coverage, with some flexibility for in-depth stories using innovative and investigative approaches that may be more costly to produce. Applicants should provide a detailed budget with justification for the amount requested. EJN expects that proposals will largely reflect what equipment the applicant already has access to (including cameras, drones, lighting, tripods, etc.) and will not consider budgets that heavily focus on procuring new supplies.
- EJN also encourages the use of multimedia and different media platforms to present and disseminate the stories. Applicants for long-form and multimedia narratives should include plans and budget for accompanying multimedia elements (i.e. video, photos) and distribution channels in their pitch. In the case that applicants will only pitch stories to media outlets after the stories are completed, they should outline the plan for distributing the reports.
- Stories can be done in English or local languages, or both. Applicants who intent to write or produce stories in local languages, the English translation of the product should be provide. Please include the cost for translation in the budget, if necessary.
Expected Story Lengths
- Long-form Narrative: 2,500 to 5,000 words
- News Article: 500 to 1,200 words
- Multimedia Package: Video piece around 2-6 minutes in length with possible graphics, photos, text, maps
Eligibility Criteria
- Journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with a track record of reporting on climate change, natural resource management and other environmental issues are welcome to apply.
- EJN encourages freelancers and staff from all types of media outlets – both large and small – to submit applications.
- Grantees are free to publish or broadcast their stories in other media as long as Internews and SIDA are also given rights to publish, broadcast and distribute them freely.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply via given website.
For more information, please visit Asia-Pacific Story Grants.