Deadline: 1-Jun-23
The Climate Tracker and Periodistas por el Planeta have launched the project “Historias de lithium y minerales critiques”, which seeks to train, accompany and finance 9 journalists from Argentina, Chile and Bolivia to publish stories on the extraction of lithium and other critical minerals in South America.
Critical minerals are a fundamental piece of the energy transition that is already underway globally. And it is that, in addition to other purposes, these resources (lithium, copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite) are used for the manufacture of electronic devices, electric vehicles and some essential devices for the generation of renewable energies.
This has generated a boom in the demand for these minerals around the world, and has focused on the so-called “Lithium Triangle”, a geographical area that includes Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, and which has around 60% of the global lithium reserves. And although the extraction of lithium and other critical minerals is considered strategic for the energy transition, it has generated conflicts between companies, governments and local communities.
What are the benefits of the program?
- This is a great opportunity to hone your skills as a journalist, expand your contact networks and strengthen your experience in covering climate change and the environment.
- Specifically, the benefits are:
- Financial incentive of $350 USD for the publication of a story + financial support for a field trip
- Group training sessions on lithium, critical minerals and just transition
- Editorial support and personalized tutorials to achieve a quality product
- Opportunity to expand your journalistic portfolio through the regional media network.
What do the selected ones commit to?
- Participate in training sessions that will take place every week between June and July.
- Participate in individual and group meetings that will be held at least twice a month.
- Publish an in-depth report at the end of the program.
- Contribute to the dissemination of the project through other platforms and activities of Climate Tracker and Periodistas por el Planeta, for example, on social networks, newsletters, among others.
Criteria
- The selection of the 9 journalists will be based on the quality of the journalistic proposal, the experience in journalism, the interest and potential to learn, and the availability to participate and report throughout the 16 weeks of the project.
- The program will select 3 journalists from each country and will last 4 months, between June and October. During this period, they will receive training sessions, personalized editorial support, and financial support for field reporting.
- In the last stage of the project, each journalist will write an in-depth report, which will be published on the Climate Tracker and Comunidad Planeta media networks.
For more information, visit Climate Tracker.