Applications are now open for the Earth Journalism Network Biodiversity Story Grants 2020. The EJN is offering reporting grants to support the production of in-depth stories that highlight previously incalculable threats to global biodiversity or explore new conservation-based solutions.
Deadline: December 18, 2020
Overview
Earth is home to millions of species whose interactions maintain our ecosystems and our planet in balance. This biodiversity provides us with the basic necessities of life – clean air, water, and food – as well as a wide variety of other goods and services that allow us to thrive.
Despite the important roles these species play in our daily lives, human activity represents the greatest threat to biodiversity on both local and global scales. Forests are being cleared to make way for agricultural production, oceans are overfished, and wildlife is declining due to poaching and habitat loss. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of these issues – funding for critical conservation and ecotourism projects was redirected or lost, economic growth has been prioritized over the protection of wilderness areas, and media coverage of the outbreak diminished reporting on conservation.
Some experts estimate that the rapid loss of species seen today is 1,000 to 10,000 times greater than the rate of natural extinction, or what would occur in the absence of human intervention. As habitats shrink and species disappear, so do the many important benefits they provide us, from the natural regulation of infectious diseases and being an important source of pharmaceuticals, to reducing the impact of natural disasters such as floods.
EJN is seeking to capture the significance of these losses by commissioning a series of stories that investigate emerging threats to species diversity worldwide, as well as innovative and potentially scalable conservation solutions.
Grant
- They expect to grant between 6 and 10 subsidies ranging from US$1,000 to US$2,000, depending on the proposal and needs.
Eligibility
- Open to journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other specialized media professionals with experience in investigative reporting and covering environmental issues.
- They encourage applications from freelancers and employees of all types of media organizations – international, national, local, and community-based.
- They are seeking to support journalists at the beginning of their careers and senior journalists with many years of reporting experience. They will accept individual and group applications, but for the latter they request that the application be made in the name of a lead applicant who will receive the grant on behalf of the group, if awarded.
For the purposes of this grant call, they are only accepting submissions of stories focused on... countries listed hereAlthough journalists from any country can apply, they will also consider requests for stories about Russia, or by Russian journalists.
Themes of the story
They welcome all story ideas, but special consideration will be given to applicants seeking to produce investigative or business reports on biodiversity or conservation topics. For this round, they are particularly interested in reading proposals that will examine the intersections between the COVID-19 pandemic and biodiversity conservation.
As they seek to bring global awareness to new threats or solutions, 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 do not provide unique angles are less likely to be selected.
Judgement criteria
Candidates should consider the following points when developing their story proposals.
- RelevanceDoes the proposal meet the criteria and objectives of the call for proposals? Why does this story matter and to whom? Are the main idea, context, and overall value for the target audience clearly defined?
- AngleIf the story has been covered by mainstream media, does your proposal offer new insights into the topic or a fresh perspective?
- ImpactDoes the proposal have a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, capture attention, spark debate, and prompt action?
- Innovative storytellingThe use of creative approaches, multimedia, and data visualization will be considered a plus.
Application
Applications must include a detailed quote with justification for the requested amount. Download the budget template.
For more information, visit an Earth Journalism Network.
