Deadline: November 2, 2026
Applications for the EJN Virtual Media Workshops on the 30×30 Target and Marine Protected Areas 2027 are now open. EJN is hosting three-day virtual media workshops in February-March 2027 for journalists in Ghana, Mexico and the Philippines to strengthen their knowledge of the 30×30 marine conservation target and initiatives being implemented to reach it.
In each workshop, journalists can expect to enhance their knowledge on the following themes, as well as specific issues relevant to each country context:
- The 30×30 agenda in relation to marine protection, including specific national commitments
- How MPAs are designated, including the regulatory, technological and political elements of the process
- The current status, management, and future plans for MPAs in the country of focus
- The scientific benefits MPAs provide and the different levels of protection necessary to safeguard these services
- Participatory and equitable approaches to marine conservation, including the role, rights, and leadership of Indigenous peoples and local communities in the design, implementation and monitoring of MPAs
- Debates on the effectiveness of protected areas for conservation, including “green colonialism” and the role of MPAs on the high seas
- Technologies such as marine spatial planning, satellites, remote sensing, eDNA and artificial intelligence for the effective management of MPAs
- National and international policy negotiations and instruments to achieve the 30×30 target
- Best practices in accountability, data and solutions journalism for marine conservation reporting
- Tips for building risk management plans while covering MPAs and the 30×30 target
- Techniques for creating engaging and accessible content, such as short-form video, to expand coverage of marine conservation issues to new audiences
The sessions will be structured as part-presentation and part-discussion. Journalists will learn from researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations and local communities working on marine conservation and the 30×30 target, as well as participate in discussions with journalism trainers on potential story ideas.
Benefits
- To ensure these workshops are accessible, EJN will offer a limited number of communications stipends to those with an unstable internet connection in remote areas.
- Participants who attend all sessions will receive a certificate of completion from EJN and will also receive special consideration should they choose to apply for a story grant to produce journalistic content following the workshop.
Eligibility
- Applicants can be from Ghana, Mexico or the Philippines.
- For the purposes of this training opportunity, they will only be accepting applications in English, and for applicants from Mexico, in Spanish. Unfortunately, they do not have the capacity to consider applications in other languages at this time. Applicants must have a working understanding of English to participate in the Ghana and Philippines workshops, and of Spanish to participate in the Mexico workshop.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio), journalistic content creators/influencers with an active presence on one or more prominent social media platforms, and other media practitioners with experience covering ocean issues.
- They welcome applications from freelance reporters, content creators, and staff from all types of media organizations—community-based, local, national, and international. They especially encourage women, rural, Indigenous and early-career journalists to apply.
- Applicants are required to be transparent about the use of generative AI tools, if any, to revise their proposals. EJN reserves the right to disqualify applicants from consideration if they have been found to have engaged in unethical or improper professional conduct, including, but not limited to, submitting AI-generated content as their own.
Application
For more information, visit EJN Workshops.
