Deadline: 19-Jul-2026
The Earth Journalism Network is offering reporting grants to journalists and media practitioners in selected Asian range countries to produce in-depth stories on orangutans, gibbons and other apes. The grants support original reporting on threats to wild and captive apes, habitat protection, illegal trade, conservation strategies and One Health risks.
Up to 10 story grants are available, each worth up to US$1,500. Eligible applicants include journalists from Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, with selected stories expected to be published or broadcast by January 31, 2027.
What is the Earth Journalism Network Reporting Grant?
The Earth Journalism Network reporting grant supports journalists in Asia to investigate and report on ape conservation issues.
The grant focuses on orangutans, gibbons and other apes facing threats in the wild and in captivity.
It is designed to strengthen public awareness, improve environmental journalism and support evidence-based reporting on conservation challenges and solutions.
Main Purpose of the Grant
The main purpose of the grant is to support original, in-depth journalism on ape conservation.
The initiative encourages journalists to report on:
- Threats to orangutans, gibbons and other apes
- Conservation of ape habitats
- Illegal trade and poaching
- Captive ape welfare and protection
- Protected areas and enforcement challenges
- Community-based conservation approaches
- One Health risks linked to zoonotic spillover
- Regional and cross-border ape conservation issues
Geographic Focus
The grant is open to journalists from selected ape range countries in Asia.
Eligible countries include:
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Applicants should propose stories connected to ape conservation challenges, habitats or policies in these countries or across the wider region.
Funding Amount
The initiative offers up to 10 reporting grants.
Each grant is valued at up to US$1,500.
The funding is intended to support the reporting process and help journalists produce original, well-researched stories.
Eligible Use of Funds
Grant funding may be used for essential reporting costs.
Eligible expenses may include:
- Reporting-related travel
- Accommodation
- Journalist stipends
- Multimedia production
- Translation needs
- Safety measures
- Fieldwork costs
- Other essential reporting expenses
Major equipment purchases are discouraged.
Stipend allocations should remain within a limited portion of the total budget.
Who is Eligible?
Eligibility is open to journalists and media practitioners from the listed Asian range countries.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Freelance journalists
- Staff reporters
- Early-career journalists
- Print journalists
- Online media reporters
- Television journalists
- Radio journalists
- Multimedia storytellers
- Media practitioners working on environmental reporting
Applications may be submitted individually or by groups.
For group applications, one lead applicant must represent the team.
Preference and Priority Applicants
Preference may be given to applicants who have completed the relevant workshop.
The programme also encourages applications from underrepresented voices, including:
- Women journalists
- Rural journalists
- Indigenous journalists
- Early-career reporters
- Journalists proposing cross-border collaboration
- Journalists proposing regional reporting partnerships
Focus Areas and Themes
The reporting grants support stories that explore threats, policy gaps and conservation responses related to apes.
Key focus areas include:
- Orangutan conservation
- Gibbon conservation
- Ape habitat protection
- Captive ape welfare
- Illegal wildlife trade
- Poaching
- Habitat fragmentation
- Industrial expansion
- Agricultural expansion
- Protected area management
- Conservation law and policy
- Enforcement challenges
- Community participation in conservation
- Science-based conservation strategies
- One Health and zoonotic spillover risks
Key Concepts Explained
Ape Range Countries
Ape range countries are countries where ape species naturally occur or where ape conservation issues are directly relevant.
Orangutans
Orangutans are great apes found in parts of Southeast Asia. They face serious threats from habitat loss, illegal trade, captivity and human-wildlife conflict.
Gibbons
Gibbons are small apes found across parts of Asia. They are threatened by forest loss, hunting, illegal trade and habitat fragmentation.
Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation happens when large natural habitats are broken into smaller, disconnected areas. This reduces the ability of apes to move, feed, breed and survive.
Illegal Wildlife Trade
Illegal wildlife trade involves the capture, sale or movement of protected species or their body parts in violation of national or international laws.
One Health
One Health is an approach that recognises the connection between human health, animal health and environmental health. In ape conservation, it can help examine risks of zoonotic disease spillover where humans, wildlife and changing ecosystems interact.
What Types of Stories Are Supported?
The grant supports original reporting that investigates ape conservation issues in depth.
Supported story ideas may cover:
- Threats to orangutans, gibbons and other apes in the wild
- Conditions faced by apes in captivity
- Impacts of agriculture and industry on ape habitats
- Illegal trade routes and enforcement gaps
- Poaching and wildlife crime
- Conservation work led by scientists, communities or local organisations
- Protected areas and their role in safeguarding habitats
- Policy solutions for ape conservation
- Cross-border conservation challenges
- Zoonotic spillover risks linked to habitat loss and human-wildlife contact
What Makes a Strong Story Proposal?
A strong proposal should present a clear reporting idea with public interest value.
It should explain:
- The ape species or conservation issue being covered
- Why the story matters now
- The location and affected communities
- The reporting approach
- The sources to be interviewed
- The evidence or data to be used
- The expected media format
- The publication or broadcast plan
- The potential impact of the story
Publication Deadline
Selected applicants are expected to publish or broadcast their stories by January 31, 2027.
Applicants should plan their reporting, production and editorial timelines accordingly.
Generative AI Transparency Requirement
Applicants must be transparent about the use of generative AI tools in proposal preparation.
This means applicants should disclose whether AI tools were used to help draft, edit or prepare the proposal.
The reporting itself should remain accurate, ethical, original and journalistically sound.
Editorial Support for Grantees
Selected grantees will receive editorial mentorship.
This support may include guidance on:
- Story framing
- Reporting depth
- Source development
- Environmental and conservation context
- Multimedia presentation
- Social media adaptation
- Wider audience reach
Acknowledgement and Rights Requirements
Published or broadcast stories must acknowledge support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Arcus Foundation.
Grantees must also grant distribution and editing rights to the supporting organisations.
This allows the stories to reach wider audiences through partner platforms and networks.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a detailed story proposal and budget.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that you are a journalist or media practitioner from an eligible country.
- Choose a story topic related to orangutans, gibbons or other apes.
- Identify the conservation issue, location and affected communities.
- Explain the reporting angle and why the story is important.
- Prepare a clear reporting plan with sources and evidence.
- Decide the media format, such as print, online, radio, television or multimedia.
- Prepare a realistic budget of up to US$1,500.
- Include only essential reporting expenses.
- Avoid major equipment purchases.
- Disclose any use of generative AI in proposal preparation.
- Submit the application as an individual or group, with one lead applicant if applying as a team.
- Plan to publish or broadcast the story by January 31, 2027.
Why It Matters
Ape conservation is a major environmental, biodiversity and public policy issue in Asia.
Orangutans, gibbons and other apes face growing threats from deforestation, illegal trade, poaching, captivity, industrial expansion and habitat fragmentation.
Journalists play an important role in explaining these issues to the public, holding institutions accountable and highlighting solutions that protect wildlife and ecosystems.
By supporting in-depth reporting, the grant helps strengthen conservation journalism and amplify stories that might otherwise receive limited attention.
Tips for Strong Applications
Applicants should focus on original reporting rather than general awareness content.
A strong application should include:
- A specific ape conservation issue
- Clear relevance to an eligible Asian country
- Strong field reporting plan
- Credible sources and expert interviews
- Community voices where relevant
- Evidence of feasibility
- Realistic budget
- Clear publication plan
- Strong conservation or policy angle
- Potential for public impact
Cross-border or regional collaboration can strengthen proposals when the issue involves shared habitats, illegal trade routes or policy coordination across countries.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting broad or unclear proposals.
Common mistakes include:
- Proposing a general wildlife story without a clear ape focus
- Ignoring threats to captive apes or habitat protection
- Submitting a weak or unrealistic budget
- Requesting funds mainly for equipment
- Failing to identify sources or reporting locations
- Not explaining the conservation importance of the story
- Missing the publication deadline
- Failing to disclose use of generative AI tools
- Submitting a proposal without a clear media outlet or publication plan
- Overlooking the acknowledgement requirements for EJN and Arcus Foundation support
FAQ
What is the Earth Journalism Network ape conservation reporting grant?
It is a reporting grant that supports journalists in selected Asian countries to produce in-depth stories on orangutans, gibbons and other apes.
How much funding is available?
The programme offers up to 10 story grants, each worth up to US$1,500.
Who can apply?
Journalists and media practitioners from Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam can apply.
What kinds of stories are eligible?
Eligible stories may cover threats to wild and captive apes, habitat loss, illegal trade, poaching, conservation strategies, protected areas, laws and policies, and One Health risks.
Can freelancers apply?
Yes. Freelancers, staff reporters and early-career journalists may apply.
Can teams apply?
Yes. Applications may be submitted by groups, but one lead applicant must represent the team.
When must selected stories be published?
Selected applicants are expected to publish or broadcast their stories by January 31, 2027.
Conclusion
The Earth Journalism Network reporting grants provide targeted support for journalists covering ape conservation in Asia. With up to 10 grants of up to US$1,500 each, the initiative helps journalists investigate threats to orangutans, gibbons and other apes while highlighting conservation solutions and policy challenges.
Strong applications will present a focused story idea, clear reporting plan, realistic budget and strong relevance to ape conservation in eligible range countries. The programme also encourages underrepresented voices and regional collaboration, helping bring more diverse and impactful conservation journalism to wider audiences.
For more information, visit EJN.