Deadline: 15-Aug-22
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering story grants to journalists from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Vietnam to report on viral zoonotic diseases and efforts to prevent their spillover from animals to humans.
The program aims to support the production of stories that raise awareness about viral zoonotic diseases and drive conversation among communities and policy makers at the local, national, and regional level. 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 angles are less likely to be selected.
They welcome stories that highlight data and the latest scientific research and explain the drivers of zoonotic spillover, identify prevention strategies to anticipate and mitigate future outbreaks; and elaborate on the intersections of public health and other global issues.
They are particularly interested in story ideas that aim to report on zoonotic diseases and spillover in a gender-sensitive manner and highlight ideas that center on gender issues, especially in communities that are highly vulnerable to spillover threats. To that end, ideas that don’t include gender perspectives to zoonotic diseases and their spillover challenges are less likely to be selected.
Story Themes
They welcome story ideas that focus on the following zoonotic viruses:
- Ebola
- Marburg
- Animal-origin zoonotic influenza viruses
- Animal-origin coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV)
- Nipah virus
- Lassa virus
Funding Information
- They expect to award at least one grant to each target country, with an average budget of $1,200 each.
- They plan to issue grants in August 2022 with the expectation that all stories will be published by November 30 at the latest. Applicants should consider this timeline when drafting their workplan.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only journalists based in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Vietnam are eligible to apply.
- 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 accept applications in English and French. However, stories may be produced in any language.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio). Freelance reporters and staff reporters from international, national, local or community-based outlets are eligible. They encourage applications from early-career journalists, but experienced reporters with a track record of reporting on health and environmental issues are also welcome to apply.
- EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct.
For more information, visit https://earthjournalism.net/opportunities/stop-spillover-story-grants-2022