Deadline: September 15, 2022
Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is pleased to announce their Biodiversity Fellowships 2022 for journalists interested in attending – and reporting from – the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December of 2022.
Delegates from 195 nations will gather at the upcoming 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in Montreal, Canada from December 7 to 19, 2022. This COP is a particularly important one, as Parties look to adopt the “Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework” which has been much-delayed and rescheduled following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Costs
- EJN will cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel insurance, and transportation costs to participate in the fellowship.
- Organizers will also reimburse meals and other transport expenses acquired in transit, including COVID testing; facilitate the press accreditation process; and provide logistical support relating to the trip. Note that the process of obtaining any necessary visas is the Fellow’s individual responsibility, though EJN can reimburse visa costs.
Journalists awarded fellowships are responsible for their own safety during travel, and for ensuring that they meet any requirements for travel and attendance. Note that during a time when many countries are still coping with the spread of COVID-19, there will be added risks and operational challenges involved with international travel and participation in in-person events.
Eligibility
Applicant must
- Be a professional journalist from or representing an established media house and reporting from a low- or middle-income country. EJN will offer scholarships to journalists from the countries listed here.
- Have previous experience reporting on environmental issues.
- Be available to arrive in Montreal by December 5, 2022 and commit to staying to cover the full two weeks of the COP and participate in fellowship activities.
- Provide a letter of support from an editor or media outlet, committing to publish or broadcast any stories produced as a result of this fellowship. This is expected of both staffers and freelancers.
- Submit samples of their work, which can be uploaded as documents or web links. Work samples can be in any language as long as they are accompanied by a short English synopsis. Clips related to biodiversity issues are preferred.
Selection Criteria
Criteria for evaluating applicants include demonstrated interest and experience covering biodiversity and other environmental topics, clear plans outlining the kinds of stories they will pursue from – and following – the conference, story ideas with the potential for impact and the audience reach of the proposed media outlet. Gender balance and geographical distribution across the cohort will also be considered.
Application
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Kindly consider submitting at least one day in advance of the deadline to avoid any issues.
For more information, visit EJN Fellowships.
