Deadline: 30 November 22

The Save Our Sias Foundation (SOSF) is pleased to present its ocean storytelling grant as the latest development in its ongoing effort to support a new generation of ocean storytellers who can convey conservation crises with precision and empathy and awaken the kind of wonder that nudges us all closer to the sea.

This writing category builds on the legacy of their previous photography grants and is dedicated to supporting a diverse generation of emerging conservation storytellers. While they don't expect all applicants to be marine-focused writers, they are specifically looking for writers who can tell conservation stories about the ocean. Whether describing marine animals themselves, or fisheries, or the communities whose lives are intertwined with the life of the sea, a writer's words can inform, transport, enchant, captivate and persuade.

Successful recipients will receive a paid assignment to cover a conservation story under the direct guidance of the Storytelling Grant team. They particularly wish to support early-career and emerging storytellers and aim to encourage new voices with fresh perspectives and approaches to writing, so while applicants should already be committed to writing, they should have no more than five years of professional experience in any writing-related discipline. They encourage women and candidates from under-represented communities to apply for this opportunity. Applications will be accepted directly by open call and by nomination.

Prize information

Three winners will be selected for the award.

• Each winner will receive a cash prize of US$ 2,000 and will be given a paid writing assignment to document a marine research or conservation project supported by SOSF. He or she will take an all-expenses-paid trip to visit that SOSF project anywhere in the world to complete the assignment. SOSF has funded over 400 projects in more than 85 countries and each winning writer will be assigned to tell one of these stories.
• The fellows will be mentored by Dr Helen Scales (marine biologist and best-selling author), Swati Thiyagarajan (conservation journalist for the Sea Change Project) and Dr Lauren De Vos (SOSF science writer). Dr James Lea (SOSF CEO) and Jade Schultz (SOSF content manager) join the panel as judges.
• All the winners will have the chance to showcase their published marine conservation story assignment.

Eligibility criteria

• The SOSF Ocean Storytelling Writing Grant is only open to emerging writers, which means that applicants should have no more than five years' professional experience in any discipline related to photography (but should already be committed to the profession).
• Applications must be made via the SOSF online grant portal
• All applicants must complete the written questionnaire as part of their application.
• All stories entered are used for judgement purposes only.
• Applicants must be aged 18 or over.
• SOSF employees and anyone connected with the administration of the competition are not eligible to apply for this grant.
• The conditions laid down in the rules of entry are binding.
• By submitting your application, you automatically agree to comply with the SOSF Ocean Storytelling Writing Grant application rules.
• The feature-style story should not exceed 1,000 words.
• The story should transport the reader to the ocean and include some aspect of conservation and/or science. Applicants should think broadly - story topics can range from the animals themselves, scientific discoveries, to fishing and the communities whose lives are intertwined with marine life.
• By submitting an entry, the applicant grants SOSF the right to share the stories submitted on the SOSF website and on SOSF social media if they are selected as finalists. The applicant also holds full and exclusive commercial rights.

General approach

• At Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF), they have a strong track record of supporting marine conservation and education projects and believe that in order to truly translate knowledge into effective and meaningful change, they must communicate through engaging stories.
• They are specifically looking for writers who can tell conservation stories about their oceans, from the animals themselves, to the fisheries, to the communities whose lives are intertwined with marine life.
• They are particularly looking to support budding and emerging storytellers and aim to encourage new voices with fresh perspectives and approaches to writing. As such, although applicants should already be committed to writing, they should have no more than five years' professional experience in any writing-related discipline.
• As with their photography scholarships, they especially encourage women and candidates from under-represented communities to apply for this opportunity.

Applications will be accepted directly by open call and by appointment.

Scholarship holders' obligations

• SOSF Storytelling Fellows agree to document a marine conservation story to be mutually agreed with SOSF in 2023 in the form of an article (over 2,000 words) and published in Save Our Seas magazine or other media.
• They will receive a cash prize of 2,000 USD and pay a fee for the task, with all expenses covered to visit an SOSF project somewhere in the world.
• The copyright of all materials produced during the assignment remains with the scholar, and they will be helped by the funding team to have their work published in a resource-orientated vehicle.
• Winning grantees also give SOSF permission to use all materials produced on commission (the article, any media) exclusively for a period of 12 months (except when SOSF and the grantee work mutually to publish the piece in an external medium). After this period, the grantee is free to licence/sell the work to other media, but SOSF retains non-exclusive non-commercial usage rights indefinitely, which include:
• Use it for Save Our Seas magazine.
• The SOSF website and social networks.
• All media related to the promotion of the SOSF Ocean Storytelling Writing Grant.
• Non-profit use for conservation and awareness-raising by SOSF and its conservation scientists.
• All participants agree that if they receive the scholarship, they will participate in related publicity and agree to the use of their name and image for the
• advertising, promotion and publicity purposes without additional compensation (in accordance with its privacy policy).
• The decision of the organisers on all matters relating to the competition is final and binding. The organisers reserve the right to amend the rules and waive breaches of the rules at their sole discretion, acting reasonably.

For more information, visit https://saveourseas.com/ocean-storytelling-writing-grant/