Call for proposal: Asia-Pacific Investigative Environmental Story Grants 2020

The Earth Journalism Network is seeking stories that go beyond answering the basic who, what, when and where, and investigate how and why governments, businesses, and financial institutions are acting in ways that directly or indirectly exploit our land and natural resources, and outline the repercussions.

Themes 

The organizers encourage proposals from the following areas

• Wildlife trafficking. Stories could investigate trafficking supply chains or the demand driving the trade in a particular wildlife species. Who is involved, what are the enabling factors and how are the authorities or communities involved working to crack down on this practice? What threats does the trade pose to the surrounding ecosystem?
• Land clearing for large-scale farming and economic development. Stories could explore demand drivers of this development. How are these activities contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, loss of fertile soil, land rights issues, and conflicts? What actors are influencing development policies? Have environmental impact assessments been carried out? Does the development project meet environmental regulations?
• Extractive industries. Stories could look at companies involved in mining or oil and gas extraction, for example. Are they fighting legislation that addresses climate change? Are they financing politicians or backing groups that deny it? What impact are their activities having on local communities and who is in opposition? Are environmental defenders who rally against these industries being threatened or attacked?
• Ocean pollution. Stories could address what is causing the pollution and what impact those activities will have on marine ecosystems. Who is responsible? Who is responding to this issue and how? What effect is it having on coastal communities and marine tourism?
• Air pollution. Stories could investigate government policies on this issue and the health impacts, particularly on vulnerable communities. What is the connection between air pollution and climate change and the steps to address it?

Eligibilities 

For the purposes of this Asia-Pacific Investigative Environmental Story Grants 2020, the Earth Journalism Network is accepting applications from South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific region but not Australia or New Zealand.

Applications are welcome from journalists (online, print, television, radio) and other expert media practitioners with experience in investigative reporting and covering environmental issues. The organizer encourages applications from freelancers and staff from all types of media organizations – international, national, local and community-based.

Rules and Format

Applicants should provide a detailed budget with justification for the amount requested using the template provided below. The organizers have not set a specific amount because they are asking candidates to consider what candidates will need to do this type of reporting. Organizers ask that the budgets be reasonable and account for costs necessary for reporting without being extraneous. They expect that stories include the equipment the applicant already has access to (including cameras, drones, lighting, tripods, etc.) and will not consider budgets that heavily focus on procuring new supplies.

Candidates can download the budget template now by clicking on this link. 

Stories can be in any language. But applicants who intend to write or produce stories in their local language need to also include an English translation. Candidates must include the cost for translation in the budget, if necessary.

Selection Criteria

• Relevance: Does the proposal meet the criteria and objectives? Why does this story matter and to whom? Are 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 an investigative element that will inform and engage, draw attention, trigger debate and urge action?
• Innovative storytelling: We encourage the use of multi-media, creative approaches and data visualization.