The EJN Story Grant & Training Program form is out. EJN is providing grants to Indigenous journalists for the development of comprehensive environmental stories that highlight climate justice, sustainable ecosystems, biodiversity, Indigenous sovereignty and leadership, and other topics concerning the rights and welfare of Indigenous communities.
Story themes
They are interested in story ideas from Indigenous journalists and those belonging to a tribe. Focusing on the relationship between environmental and climate change issues and the rights and well-being of Indigenous peoples and communities.
- They specifically seek stories that explore environmental solutions and resiliency led by Indigenous Peoples. Sustainable resource use, Indigenous agriculture, and traditional grazing and land management practices as climate, health, and biodiversity solutions.
- They encourage investigations into land rights and environmental sovereignty, including historical precedent and legal frameworks.
- Stories highlighting the threats faced by Indigenous environmental defenders are also of interest.
- They are looking for stories that expose governments, corporations, and other powerful actors who fail to include or intentionally sideline Indigenous Peoples in decision-making processes regarding climate and environmental issues.
- They prefer proposals that focus on less-covered topics or provide unique angles to environmental challenges, rather than issues that have already received extensive media coverage.
Benefits of the EJN Story Grant & Training Program
- EJN plans to grant approximately 8-9 awards with an average budget of $1400 per grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must self-identify as Indigenous or belonging to a tribe, and provide affiliation details in the application.
- The eligibility criteria are based on ILO Convention No. 169, and the organization seeks a diverse cohort from various Indigenous and tribal communities worldwide.
- Applicants can be from any country.
- Non-Indigenous journalists are not eligible except as collaborators with Indigenous colleagues, with the Indigenous journalist as the lead applicant.
- Applications are only accepted in English, and applicants must have an adequate understanding of the language to participate in the workshop and take the course.
- Journalists working in any medium with investigative reporting experience and a record of covering environmental issues can apply, including freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations.
- Applicants must pitch their story ideas in the form of a short video or a written proposal, which they can choose in the application form.
Judging Criteria
When developing their story proposals, applicants should take into account the following considerations:
- Relevance: Does the proposal align with the call’s criteria and objectives? Is the significance of the story and its target audience clearly defined?
- Angle: If the topic has already been covered, does the proposal offer new perspectives or a unique angle?
- Reach: Does the proposed media outlet have a broad readership? Journalists working with outlets that typically limit access to content through paywalls are encouraged to secure commitments from additional outlets or request an exception to ensure their EJN-supported story reaches a wider audience.
- Impact: Does the proposal contain a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform, engage, provoke discussion, and drive action?
- Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches, multimedia, and data visualization will be seen as advantageous.
- Timely publication plan: All reporters, whether freelance or affiliated with a media outlet, must include a letter of support from an editor in their application, guaranteeing publication of the stories by October 31, 2024. No extensions will be granted.
Application procedure
- To begin your application, click the ‘Apply now’ button.
- “If you already have an account, please proceed to sign in. If not, register by clicking “Log in” at the top right of the page and then selecting the “Sign up” link at the bottom of the page that appears.
- If you need to pause and complete your application later, click ‘Save Draft.’ To return to the draft, click ‘Apply now’ again to finalize the application.
- Applications must include a detailed budget in an Excel spreadsheet, with justification for the amount requested. You can download the budget template by clicking
- All applicants must provide a signed letter of support from their editor. Explicitly stating that the media outlet will publish the stories produced as a result of this grant.
- Two samples of stories or links to relevant work must also be submitted.
- During the application process, you will be asked to upload these supporting documents, so please have them readily available.
For more details on the EJN Story Grant & Training Program for Indigenous Environmental Journalists please visit the official website.
Application Deadline
January 18, 2024.
CHECK THESE OUT:
- Cultural Survival Indigenous Youth Fellowship 2024 (Up to $6,000 Financial Range) – APPLY NOW
- UN OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Program 2024 | Geneva, Switzerland
- EJN Story Grants to Support Coverage of One Health in Asia Pacific 2024 (Up to $2,000 Grant) – APPLY NOW
- Earth Journalism Network (EJN) Reporting Fellowships 2024 (Up to €6,000 Stipend) – APPLY NOW
- EJN Media Workshop on Air Pollution in Nairobi, Kenya 2024
