EJN Mediterranean Media Initiative Story Grants 2024 (up to €1,000)

Grants will support the production of in-depth stories covering current and emerging marine issues in the Mediterranean, including governance problems exacerbating these crises. Applications are open for the EJN Mediterranean Media Initiative Story Grants 2024.

With support from the Adessium Foundation, Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is pleased to offer up to 10 story grants with a budget of up to 1,000 Euros each for this round of story grants to support reporting on illegal fishing and the biodiversity crisis in the Mediterranean region, as well as solutions to marine issues. In addition to funding, selected journalists will receive support from experienced mentors through the story production process.

Story Themes of Initiative Story Grants

They welcome story ideas that focus on the following themes:

• Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Destructive Practices: Stories can highlight the impacts of IUU fishing and environmentally harmful fishing methods, and the challenges of monitoring and regulating them. This includes trawling, dynamite fishing, coral harvesting, juvenile fish catches, underreporting of catches, unauthorized fishing in restricted areas, and the complex management of multinational fishing fleets.
• Emerging Anthropogenic Stressors in Marine Environments: Journalists may choose to explore the impact of human-induced stressors on marine ecosystems. These stressors include increased marine traffic, installation of underwater cables, introduction of invasive species, underwater noise pollution, offshore gas exploration activities, rising sea temperatures, and broader climate change effects.
• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs), and Biodiversity Loss; The 30×30 Goal: Stories could focus on the effectiveness of existing MPAs and FRAs in Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, and Italy. Journalists may examine the merits of newly proposed protected areas to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, challenges in achieving the 30×30 conservation target, stakeholder involvement, and the representation gap in decision-making processes regarding biodiversity conservation.
• Regional Fisheries Management: Journalists may investigate the impact of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) recommendations on domestic legislation and their implementation. Stories could assess the challenges related to limited regulation and enforcement in regional fisheries management.
• Innovative Technology Solutions for Mediterranean Marine Issues: Stories could highlight the innovative use of technology in addressing Mediterranean marine issues. This includes the application of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and the development and deployment of artificial reefs for marine conservation and restoration.

They seek to support stories that will drive conversation among communities and policymakers at the local, national, and regional level. Stories that do not provide unique angles to environmental or climate challenges are less likely to be selected.

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Grant of Initiative Story Grants

• They expect to award up to 10 grants with a budget of up to 1,000 Euros each with the expectation that some stories will be published before the end of 2024 and the rest no later than January 15, 2025.

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Eligibility

• Applicants can be from any country that borders the Mediterranean Sea. Countries include Algeria; Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Cyprus; Egypt; France; Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory); Greece; Italy; Israel; Lebanon; Libya; Malta; Monaco; Montenegro; Morocco; Palestine; Slovenia; Spain; Syria; Tunisia; Türkiye.
• Groups of journalists are eligible; 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 written applications in English, French or Arabic. 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 French 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 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, including, but not limited to, plagiarism and/or submitting AI-generated content as their own.

Note: Advocacy-focused stories, research or academic essays, opinion editorials and/or strategic communications pieces will not be considered for support.

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?
• 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, multimedia 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 ideally by the end of 2024 or by January 15, 2025 the latest. Requests for extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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