Apply for EJN Story Grants to Strengthen Environmental Coverage in the Amazon 2024

Apply for EJN Story Grants to Strengthen Environmental Coverage in the Amazon 2024. Internews’ EJN is giving journalists a chance to make a difference in the Amazon Region! They are offering story grants ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 to produce stories on transnational conservation crimes. These crimes, such as wildlife trafficking and illegal logging, are posing a serious threat to the Amazon ecosystem and the Indigenous peoples and local communities who call it home.

It’s not easy for journalists and environmental defenders to tackle these issues. They often face violence and threats to their safety, on top of limited resources and training. That’s why it’s crucial to improve the quality of environmental coverage in the Amazon and shed light on the many threats in the region.

To support this cause, Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, along with the Internews Americas team, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), are offering a second round of story grants. Journalists and communicators from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are encouraged to apply. The goal is to enhance their skills in producing high-quality, factual, and engaging public information about the impacts of transnational conservation crimes. These stories will also explore the connection between these crimes, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Additionally, they will highlight community-led and policy-driven solutions to mitigate these impacts.

This incredible opportunity is part of the Together for Conservation project, which aims to empower civil society actors and their regional networks to protect biodiversity and preserve the Amazon. Let’s join forces and make a positive impact together!

Story themes   

• Stories that tackle the dangers to our environment and livelihood such as threats to eco-biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods due illegal logging, unsustainable fishing activities, wildlife trafficking  activities and illegal mining
• Stories about transnational economic or illicit activities and/or those focusing on investigations on supply chain  are preferred.
• Stories  about the awesome work being done by policymakers, Indigenous communities, and businesses to fight against conservation crimes in the Amazon. From sustainable forestry to cracking down on wildlife trafficking, we want to spread the word about their efforts.
• Stories about raising awareness, so stories that get communities and policymakers talking about conservation crimes are a big thumbs up too!

Eligibility

• Are you a journalist based in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador or Peru? Even better if you’re from the Amazon region! We’re particularly interested in proposals from Indigenous journalists.
• If you’re part of a group, make sure to explain how each member will participate in the proposal.
• Just remember, only one lead applicant can apply on behalf of the group. We’re accepting applications in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
• Whether you’re an early-career journalist or an experienced reporter, we welcome your application as long as you have a track record of covering environment conservation topics in the Amazon region.
• Freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations are encouraged to apply.
• However, please note that we reserve the right to disqualify applicants who have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct.

Judging criteria
When coming up with your story proposals, keep these points in mind.

• Relevance: Does your proposal meet the criteria and objectives of the call? Why does this story matter, and who does it matter to? Have you clearly defined the main idea, context, and overall value for the target audience?
• Angle: If the story has already been covered, does your proposal bring new insights or offer a fresh perspective?
• Impact: Does your proposal have a captivating narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, grab attention, spark debate, and inspire action?
• Innovative storytelling: Using creative approaches, multimedia, and data visualization will be seen as a plus.
• Plan for timely publication: Reporters, whether freelancers or employed by a media outlet, will need to include a letter of support from an editor in their application, committing to publishing the stories by the end of August 2024.

Application process

• Click the “Apply now” button
• If you already have an account, you’ll need to log in. Since we recently updated our website, you might have to reset your password by clicking the “Forgot password?” link on the log-in page. If you don’t have an account, you must register by clicking “Log in” on the top right of the page and then clicking the “Sign up” link at the bottom of the page that appears.
• If you start the application and want to come back and finish it later, you can click “Save Draft.” To return to the draft, you’ll need to go back to the opportunity and click “Apply now” again to finalize the application.
• Applications should include a detailed budget in an Excel spreadsheet with a justification for the requested amount. Download the budget template now by clicking on this link. 
•  EJN’s got a brand new research study going on, and they’re really keen on having you participate. They’re evaluating the state of climate and environmental journalism worldwide, and they want your input. The survey is available in a whopping 11 languages, so you can take it in whichever language you’re most comfortable with. But hurry up, because it’s closing on December 8th! If you’re interested, you can take the survey right here. And if you want to know more about the project’s goals, just click here.  Deadline 1 December 2023