Call for Grant Applications –
Investigative Story Grant and Training Program for Indigenous and Tribal Journalists
Application Deadline:
16 October 2024
About Organisation
Established in 2004, the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) has grown into a global collective of journalists and media outlets committed to improving environmental and climate change reporting. EJN provides essential support to journalists facing resource constraints, misinformation, and limited access to information, especially in the context of urgent global environmental challenges. The network offers tools, training, and grants to reporters and freelancers, enabling them to deliver accurate, well-researched stories on critical environmental issues. EJN’s focus is to equip journalists with the resources they need to produce impactful, investigative pieces that drive awareness and accountability. Its global presence allows it to serve diverse communities across continents, supporting both local and international media. EJN is committed to amplifying Indigenous voices in environmental journalism and fostering collaborations that strengthen environmental accountability. Through these efforts, EJN works to combat the growing crisis in the media industry, helping journalists overcome challenges such as underfunding, censorship, and safety threats.
About the Grant
EJN is offering reporting grants to Indigenous and tribal journalists worldwide to support investigative, innovative, and enterprise reporting on environmental and climate issues. Indigenous-led journalism has achieved significant progress in recent years, producing powerful investigations and collaborations across regions. This grant aims to deepen Indigenous environmental coverage and tackle underreported climate issues, such as land rights, environmental sovereignty, and the failure of governments and corporations to involve Indigenous communities in decision-making. Grant recipients will receive between $2,500 to $3,000, alongside mentorship and networking opportunities with experts in the field. Selected journalists will participate in a virtual training program to build their skills in investigative reporting techniques. The program is supported by the Wikimedia Foundation, which ensures Indigenous journalists gain the necessary resources to gather and report data related to environmental issues. Stories produced through this program will focus on pressing topics, such as data sovereignty, historical land use, and environmental justice, creating much-needed accountability in these areas.
Who can Apply?
The grant is open to Indigenous and tribal journalists from around the world who are looking to investigate environmental and climate-related issues. Applicants must self-identify as Indigenous or belonging to a tribe and provide details of their affiliations. EJN will use the ILO Convention No. 169 as a guide for eligibility and aims to assemble a diverse cohort representing different Indigenous communities. Indigenous journalists who have received EJN grants in 2021 or 2022 may apply, but preference will be given to new applicants. Applications from non-Indigenous journalists are accepted only if they collaborate with Indigenous reporters, who must serve as the lead applicant. For this opportunity, applications will be accepted only in English, and applicants must have proficiency in the language to participate in the training program. The program welcomes journalists working across all media platforms—whether print, broadcast, online, or radio—and encourages freelance reporters as well as those affiliated with news organizations. Applicants must be transparent about the use of any generative AI tools in their submissions, and unethical conduct, including AI-generated content misrepresentation, may lead to disqualification.
How to Apply?
To apply, complete the online application form on the EJN website. Include a detailed budget using the provided Excel template and submit two work samples or links to previous work. A signed letter of support from your editor, confirming the media outlet will publish the resulting story, is required. You can save your application as a draft and return later to complete it.
Application Deadline
The deadline to submit applications is October 16, 2024, at 11:59 PM (Pacific/Niue).
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
