Earth Journalism (EJN) Biodiversity Story Grants 2024 – EJN is offering reporting grants to support the production of in-depth stories that highlight previously untold threats to global biodiversity or explore new conservation-based solutions.
Please read the following sections carefully, as they contain important information on eligibility and the application process.
The worsening biodiversity crisis poses a monumental threat to our planet’s welfare and thus to all of humanity. Yet, the main culprit driving this climate emergency is human activity — practices such as poaching, trafficking and deforestation are all undermining the health, stability and resilience of our planet’s ecosystems, on which we all depend.
Journalists have an important role to play in alerting the public to the magnitude of this crisis, as well as engaging them in discussions, debates and actions around the nature-based solutions that might help curb biodiversity loss.
With the upcoming United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) taking place in Colombia from 21 October 21 to 1 November this year, the media is also crucial to monitoring the progress of countries’ conservation targets and commitments to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and ensuring home audiences have access to relevant, timely and localized global stories.
To help journalists raise awareness and accountability of citizens, policymakers and corporations in tackling the biodiversity crisis, EJN is offering story grants to produce engaging, timely and impactful stories through its Biodiversity Media Initiative, which is now entering its third phase of operation since its inception in 2016.
Story themes
For this grant opportunity, we are interested in pitches for ambitious stories that make use of innovative multimedia, collaborative, cross-border or investigative approaches to deepen coverage of biodiversity or conservation topics. Proposals that utilize data journalism and geojournalism are also encouraged.
This year, themes we are interested in supporting include (but are not limited to):
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Under-reported stories of trade and trafficking of endangered flora and fauna and its impacts
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New or little-known threats to species diversity, e.g. cryptocurrency mining, seabed mining
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New methods to track environmental crimes such as illegal mining and logging, and other drivers of biodiversity loss
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Innovative, potentially scalable conservation solutions led by communities, governments or corporations
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Efforts to boost “green” and “blue” economies to enable development that conserves rather than exploits the environment
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New or proposed policies which could be either harmful or beneficial to biodiversity
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Biodiversity and conservation in urban areas
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Mechanisms for financing biodiversity conservation such as biodiversity credits
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Benefit-sharing from digital sequence information and its possibilities and risks
Special consideration will be given to applicants looking at monitoring and evaluating the commitments and progress from the Global Biodiversity Framework in the leadup to the Convention on Biological Diversity COP taking place in October 2024 in Colombia.
As we are looking to raise global awareness about 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 don’t provide unique angles are less likely to be selected.
You can read published stories supported by the Biodiversity Media Initiative in previous years here.
Earth Journalism Biodiversity Story Grants 2024 Eligibility
For the purposes of this grant call, we are only accepting applications for stories focused on the countries listed here, though journalists from any country can apply.
We would like to hear from applicants based in countries in which we have not offered grants to previously. We encourage applications in particular from West Africa Central America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe, and specifically from the following countries: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Applications are open to journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with experience in investigative reporting and covering environmental issues.
We are seeking to support both early-career and senior journalists with many years of reporting experience. We encourage applications from freelancers and staff from all types of media organizations—international, national, local and community-based.
We’ll accept both individual and group applications, but for the latter we ask that the application is made in the name of one lead applicant who will receive the grant on the group’s behalf, if awarded.
EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct, including, but not limited to, plagiarism and/or submitting AI-generated content as their own.
Story logistics
Award amounts are expected to be in the range of 1,000-2,000 EUR with investigative or other types of in-depth reporting more likely to be approved for higher amounts (up to 5,000 EUR).
We plan to issue grants in May 2024 with the expectation that all stories will be published by 1 December 2024, though longer timelines may be considered for more in-depth reporting approaches. Applicants should consider this when drafting their workplan.
Safety: We encourage reporters to follow public health regulations and best practices for local disease outbreaks when out in the field, so you do not endanger yourself or the people you’re interviewing. If needed, you should include any Covid-related costs, such as tests or personal protective equipment, in your budget. We also encourage journalists to follow best practice on safeguarding physical and digital safety.
Language of publication: Stories can be produced in any language. However, applicants who intend to write or produce stories in their local language need to also include an English translation. Please include the cost for translation in the budget, if necessary.
Story budget: Successful applicants are expected to put these grants toward travel for field reporting, research, and production. We expect that proposals will largely reflect what equipment the applicant already has access to (including cameras, drones, lighting, tripods, etc.) and will not consider budgets that heavily focus on procuring new equipment.
All applicants are required to provide a detailed budget using this template with justification for the amount requested. Please also note on your budget form if you are receiving funding from any other donors for the story.
We will consider a stipend for the reporters’ salary, particularly if the applicant is a freelancer. Please estimate the time you’ll need to complete this story and propose compensation you believe reflects a fair market rate. We ask, however, that this comprises no more than 30% of the total budget.
Acknowledgement of EJN support: Published stories and/or broadcasts must disclose EJN support by including this tagline: “This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.”
Republication rights: Please note that Internews’ EJN and its partners have the right to edit, publish, broadcast and distribute grantees’ stories freely after they have been published/broadcast in the original media outlet. Full credit and a link will be provided to the media organization that originally published/aired the stories.
Plan for timely publication: Reporters, whether freelance or employed at a media outlet, will need to include a letter of support from an editor in their application, committing to publish the stories in a timely manner following completion of the final draft, and no later than 1 December 2024 (unless otherwise agreed with EJN).
Judging criteria
Applicants should consider the following points when devising their story proposals.
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Relevance: Does the proposal meet the criteria and objectives of the call? Why does this story matter and to whom? Is the main idea, context and overall value to the target audience clearly defined?
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Angle: If the story has been covered by mainstream media, does your proposal bring new insights into the topic or offer a fresh angle?
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Impact: Does the proposal have a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and urge action?
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Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches, multimedia and data visualization will be considered a plus.
Application process
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Click the ‘Apply now’ button at the top of the page.
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If you have an existing account, you’ll need to log in. If not, you will need to create an account by clicking “Log in” on the top right of the page and click the “Sign up” link at the bottom of the page that opens. Click here for detailed instructions on how to create an account, and here for detailed instructions on how to reset your password.
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If you start the application and want to come back and complete 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.
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Applications should submit two samples of stories or links to relevant work, a detailed budget with justification for the amount requested, and 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.
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Applications should provide a detailed budget with justification for the amount requested. Download the budget template now by clicking on this link.
Note: You’ll be asked to upload these supporting documents once you start the application process, so please have them handy.
If you encounter any difficulties submitting your application or have questions about the grants, please email info.ejn@internews.org. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
For more Information: Visit the website for Earth Journalism (EJN) Biodiversity Story Grants 2024
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