Deadline: February 12, 2016
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is now accepting applications for its first ever reporting trip to South Sudan and second reporting trip to Tanzania. This opportunity is part of the African Great Lakes Reporting Initiative, created in 2014 and designed to support women journalists committed to pursuing stories that go beyond the well-established narratives of political instability, armed conflicts, and humanitarian crisis in the region.
Six women journalists will be selected to report on development and humanitarian issues in South Sudan. Concurrently, another group of six journalists will cover stories related to conservation in Tanzania. Both trips will take place May 1-14, 2016.
All Fellows will begin their trip in Nairobi, Kenya, where they will complete comprehensive security training and an orientation about the African Great Lakes region and focus countries. Fellows then depart for about one week of in-country independent reporting from South Sudan or Tanzania, where they will have the opportunity to network with local journalists, collaborate with international peers, and meet with sources and discover sites relevant to their reporting.
Benefits
- The IWMF arranges travel and in-country logistics for all Fellows.
- The IWMF also covers fellowship-related costs within the framework of the reporting trip including travel, lodging, meals, and fixers/interpreters, unless a selected journalist’s news organization wishes to assume these costs.
- Visa costs will also be covered, but fellows living outside the U.S. are responsible for procuring all necessary visas.
- The IWMF Fund for Women Journalists will award $230K in grants to women journalists
Eligibility
- Applicants must be affiliated or freelance women journalists with at least 3 years of professional experience in journalism working in print, broadcast, or digital media.
- All nationalities are welcome to apply.
- Applicant must have at least 3 years professional experience in journalism. Journalists working in print, broadcast, or digital media, including freelancers, are eligible.
- Non-native English speakers must have excellent written and verbal English skills in order to fully participate in and benefit from the program.
- Applicant must be able to demonstrate support from an editor or have a proven track record of publication in prominent media outlets.
- Applicants for the IWMF’s South Sudan reporting trip must have prior experience working in a hostile environment, and will preferably have experience in Africa’s Great Lakes region.
- Applicants must be comfortable working in a high-risk environment.
Application
- South Sudan reporting trip: apply here
- Tanzania reporting trip: apply here
Application Guidelines
- Applicant may not submit one application for multiple countries or trips. She must submit a complete application and story plan for each country for which she wants to apply.
- Applications include basic details, a statement of interest including a researched story pitch, CV, work samples, and either a letter of support from an editor or a proven track record of publication.
- All applications materials must be submitted in English.
Before submitting an application, please review the Reporting Fellowship FAQs.
For more information, visit the IWMF Reporting Trip.
