Deadline: December 7, 2023
Applications are open for the EJN Story Grants to Support Coverage of One Health in Asia Pacific 2024. EJN’s Asia-Pacific project aims to increase the quality and quantity of coverage of a wide range of One Health issues. Better informed audiences will be equipped to urge policymakers to bridge silos and adopt One Health measures to curb the growing health, climate and environmental crises.
With support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), EJN is pleased to offer up to 12 story grants to selected journalists. In addition to funding, selected journalists will receive support from experienced mentors through the story production process.
Story Themes
Topics journalists Journalists may explore include, but are not limited to: the human, animal and environmental health impacts of:
- Climate change / biodiversity loss
- Zoonotic and vector-borne diseases
- Heavy metal contamination
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Foodborne diseases
- Air pollution
- Harmful algal blooms (HABs)
- Microplastics and persistent organic pollutants, from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) used as pesticides
Benefits
- They expect to award up to 12 grants with an average budget of $2,000 each. Each selected journalist will be paired with an editorial mentor and receive guidance from a One Health thematic expert.
- Grantees will receive access to a new health journalism course, delivered via Whatsapp, produced by Internews’ Health Journalism Network and EJN. They will also be invited to join EJN’s soon-to-launch One Health-focused reporters’ community for peer learning and exchange.
EJN plans to issue grants in January with the expectation that all stories will be published by May 2024 at the latest. Applicants should consider this timeline when drafting public health regulations and best practices for local disease outbreaks when out in the field their workplan.
Eligibility
- They will accept applications from journalists residing in countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific Islands. They will not accept applications from Australia, New Zealand, Central Asia or the Middle East. Journalists from low- and middle-income countries in the region will be prioritized.
- Groups of journalists are eligible. Cross-border collaborations are welcome, however, the application must be made in the name of one lead applicant. Lead applicants are responsible for communicating with EJN and receiving funds on the group’s behalf, if awarded.
- For the purposes of this grant opportunity, they will only be accepting applications in English. Unfortunately, they do not have the capacity to consider applications in other languages at this time. Applicants must either have a working understanding of English or have a translator available to assist with communication with Internews staff.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with professional reporting experience. They welcome applications from early-career journalists and experienced reporters with a track record of covering health, climate and environmental issues. They encourage applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations — international, national, local and community-based.
- EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct.
Judging Criteria
Applicants should consider the following points when devising their story proposals.
- 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?
- Angle: If the story has been covered, does your proposal bring new insights to the topic or offer a fresh angle?
- Reach: Does the proposed media outlet have a wide reach? Journalists publishing their work at outlets that typically restrict content behind paywalls are encouraged to secure commitments to publish from additional outlets, or request an exception to ensure their EJN-supported story remains accessible to audiences.
- Impact: Does the proposal have a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and spur action?
- Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches, photographs, audio and video elements and data visualization will be considered a plus.
- 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 by May 2024.
Application
For more information, visit EJN Grants.
