Deadline: September 12, 2021
Applications are open for the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) Grants 2021 to Boost Reporting on Renewable Energy in India. For this grant round, EJN is looking to support 10 in-depth stories that explore entrepreneurship by RE developers and innovative RE applications apart from an addition to the energy grid. They are also looking for stories that explore policy, financing, payment and infrastructure hurdles and include efforts to overcome them.
The grants will support the production of in-depth stories on the prospects, problems and pathways forward for renewable energy, with the aim of improving the quality of information on the subject and raising awareness among policymakers, project developers, entrepreneurs, investors and consumers.
Although they will give preference to proposals that deal with the RE scenario in the three states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, proposals from all over India are eligible, and they do expect to award grants to journalists working in other states.
Grant
- EJN expects to award 10 grants averaging Rs 90,000 each, depending on the proposal and method of coverage, with some flexibility for in-depth and data-driven stories using innovative and investigative approaches that may be more costly to produce.
Eligibility
- Open to India-based journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with a demonstrated interest in reporting on the RE sector, or other topics related to energy and the environment.
- They shall give preference to journalists who regularly cover economy, business and energy beats. To ensure equal opportunities and diversity of voices, they especially encourage applications from women, young journalists and journalists from Indigenous communities.
- They are seeking applications from freelancers and staff from all types of media outlets – international, national, local and community-based.
- Those who are awarded grants should publish or broadcast their stories in their affiliated media as long as EJN and its partner outlets are also given rights to edit, publish, broadcast and distribute the grantees’ stories freely afterward. Freelancers should demonstrate a plan for publication or broadcast and are encouraged to provide a letter of interest from an editor.
Judging Criteria
Applicants should consider the following points when devising their story proposals:
- Timing: They expect the proposed story or stories to be published by the end of November 2021.
- Relevance: Does the proposal meet the criteria and objectives? 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 by other media outlets, does your proposal bring new insights into the topic or offer a fresh angle?
- Impact: Does the proposal have a compelling narrative or investigative element that will inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and urge action?
- Innovative storytelling: The use of creative approaches and data visualization will be considered a plus.
- Feasibility. Can the story be realistically completed within the given time frame? Is the budget realistic?
- Diversity: They will take gender and geographical distribution into account when selecting the grantees in addition to the criteria above.
Application
Stories can be produced in English or local languages, or both. EJN encourages applications from journalists working in local languages and reporting for local media outlets. However, for wider dissemination, an English translation should be provided. Please include the cost of translation in the budget, if necessary.
For more information, visit EJN Grant.
