EJN Biodiversity Story Grants 2024

This informs the public about the EJN Biodiversity Story Grants 2024. Details about the Program are given below.

EJN Biodiversity Story Grants

The worsening biodiversity crisis poses a monumental threat to our planet’s welfare and thus to all of humanity. Yet, the main culprit driving this climate emergency is human activity — practices such as poaching, trafficking and deforestation are all undermining the health, stability and resilience of our planet’s ecosystems, on which we all depend.

Journalists have an important role to play in alerting the public to the magnitude of this crisis, as well as engaging them in discussions, debates and actions around the nature-based solutions that might help curb biodiversity loss.

Program Details

With the upcoming United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) taking place in Colombia from 21 October 21 to 1 November this year, the media is also crucial to monitoring the progress of countries’ conservation targets and commitments to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and ensuring home audiences have access to relevant, timely and localized global stories.

To help journalists raise awareness and accountability of citizens, policymakers and corporations in tackling the biodiversity crisis, EJN is offering story grants to produce engaging, timely and impactful stories through its Biodiversity Media Initiative, which is now entering its third phase of operation since its inception in 2016.

Eligibility

For the purposes of this grant call, we are only accepting applications for stories focused on the countries listed here, though journalists from any country can apply.

We would like to hear from applicants based in countries in which we have not offered grants to previously. We encourage applications in particular from West Africa Central America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe, and specifically from the following countries: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Applications are open to journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with experience in investigative reporting and covering environmental issues.

We are seeking to support both early-career and senior journalists with many years of reporting experience. We encourage applications from freelancers and staff from all types of media organizations—international, national, local and community-based.

We’ll accept both individual and group applications, but for the latter, we ask that the application be made in the name of one lead applicant who will receive the grant on the group’s behalf if awarded.

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, plagiarism and/or submitting AI-generated content as their own.

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 by mainstream media, 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, multimedia and data visualization will be considered a plus.

How to Apply

For those interested in the EJN Biodiversity Story Grants 2024. Open this link to start the application process.

  • Click the ‘Apply now’ button at the top of the page.

  • If you have an existing account, you’ll need to log in. If not, you will need to create an account by clicking “Log in” on the top right of the page and click the “Sign up” link at the bottom of the page that opens.   Click here for detailed instructions on how to create an account, and here for detailed instructions on how to reset your password.

  • If you start the application and want to come back and complete it later, you can click ‘Save Draft.’ To return to the draft, you’ll need to go back to the opportunity and click ‘Apply now’ again to finalize the application.

  • Applications should submit two samples of stories or links to relevant work, a detailed budget with justification for the amount requested, and a signed letter of support from their editor, explicitly stating that the media outlet will publish the stories produced as a result of this grant.

  • Applications should provide a detailed budget with justification for the amount requested. Download the budget template now by clicking on this link.

Application Deadline

  • The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 May 2024.

Open this link for more details about EJN Biodiversity Story Grants 2024.

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